The ferry from Atlas to Patch took six days. Six days spent in cramped cots with a small window to the ocean outside. Cars lined the bottom, saltwater occasionally spilling up to soak the tires, threatening to take the group's worldly possessions with them.

The entire trip, Weiss stayed in the cabin she shared with Ruby. Unwilling to talk. Removed from the world and lost in her own.

Ruby spent most of the days with her. But, on the fifth day, she ventured out, leaving Weiss to watch the waves from the small window.

Ruby climbed the stairs to the deck. A gently breeze ruffled her hair. She stepped into the sunlight, letting it kiss her skin, letting the warmth spread from her fingers to her booted feet. She took a deep breath and sighed.

It was a beautiful day.

Down the length of the boat, travelers from all over Remnant took in the sights of the sea. Some had binoculars handy, ready to spot the twenty-foot wingspan of a rare Carpenter's Gull. Others simply took in the sunshine, or played cards on the deck, taking small gems from each other instead of cash. Some had already started drinking or smoking, getting an early start on the day's merriment.

Leaning against the railing, a lone Sun stood, tail flicking back and forth, finally free to be himself. He spotted Ruby, and waved her over.

"Hey." Ruby greeted.

"Hey yourself." Sun said, glancing at Ruby. "Nice outfit."

"Oh, this old thing?" Ruby looked down, pulling at the hem of her overall shorts, turning her thick boots against the deck. "Just another working outfit."

"At least you've got variety." Sun said, pulling a cigarette from a pack. He put it in his mouth and lit it. "I'm all vest and abs."

"You know what works." Ruby shrugged, joining him at the railing. "Where's Neptune?" She asked.

"Still afraid of the unknown." Sun said, gesturing to the water below.

"Right." Ruby nodded. She looked at the cigarette in Sun's hand. "I thought you didn't smoke."

"Of course I smoke." Sun said. "But cigarettes are for special occasions."

"Such as?" Ruby asked, taking in the waves.

"Such as when I don't have anything else that'll fix the problem." Sun sighed. "Has Weiss talked yet?"

"No." Ruby pressed her forehead against her forearms, sighing. "And I haven't pressed her on it."

"Wouldn't ask you to." Sun ashed his smoke, watching the wisps of black dust fall into the ocean.

"Can I have one too?" Ruby asked, pressing her shoulder against Sun's.

Without a word of judgment, Sun pulled a stick from the pack and offered it to Ruby with a lighter in hand.

Ruby took the cigarette and lit it. She drew the smoke into her lungs. Her mouth tasted sweetness and something like battery acid.

"Not exactly a treat." Ruby said, exhaling.

"No. But it pulls the nerves out. Makes them feel normal, even if they're stretched." Sun took another drag from his own. "So she hasn't said anything about the kidnapping? What she talked about with her dad?"

"Not a word." Ruby repeated, knowing she'd be asking if she were in Sun's shoes.

"Right. Right." Sun nodded. "So, what's next?"

"Weiss and I have a job locked down. A place to crash too." Ruby glanced at Sun. "I called my dad about hosting you and Neptune."

"Your dad?" Sun asked, brow raised.

"Yeah. He's got plenty of room. Runs a farm. Not because he likes farming. He's trying to be there for my Uncle. He's trying to be there for me." Ruby pressed her lips together. "He could use some hands." She said, turning back to Sun.

"Sick." Sun gestured to his body. "I can get my summer bod carved out."

"Yeah." Ruby cocked her head, looking at Sun. "Hey. Are you and Neptune really okay following us out here?"

"That's a silly question." Sun said, exhaling smoke.

"I'm still asking it." Ruby said, no hint of mirth. "You'd get better jobs and more money elsewhere."

"I didn't got to Atlas for money." Sun said firmly, eyes meeting Ruby's. "Well, actually, I did. But it wasn't the money that was important."

Ruby went silent, waiting for Sun to clarify.

Sun took another drag, looking out to the ocean. The waters were glistening in the afternoon sun, like shattered glass in the well of a mirror.

"I ran from my home." Sun said. "When I did, I found Neptune. And, for better or worse, he became my home. Does that make sense?" Sun asked, looking at Ruby.

"Of course it makes sense." Ruby said softly. Her head perked up. "It also sounds pretty gay." She teased, sticking her tongue out.

"Ha! In his dreams." Sun laughed. "Nah, we talked about that. Neither of us really feel like that. But," Sun drew his thumb across his palm, sitting in the moment. "He saved my damn life Ruby. He did that by caring, and he didn't give a shit about losing everything. Just to keep me around."

"What happened?" Ruby asked.

"Same shit that happens anywhere." Sun said, taking another drag. "A faunus tries to make a life. Bigots try to burn the monkey boy. And Neptune ran right out with me. Dropped his job, dropped his apartment. We dived into a train car and I don't have the first idea where to go and Neptune says 'let's go to Atlas!'"

"Where most people hate faunus." Ruby rolled her eyes, exhaling smoke. "That's ridiculous."

"Well, it makes sense." Sun shrugged. "The best cooks want the best pay. They go to Atlas. Neptune said he'd become a chef, and put away money until we could get a place somewhere else." Sun glanced at Ruby out the corner of his eye. "Someplace better."

"Huh." Ruby said. "So you were already looking."

"Yeah. And we found you two." Sun reached up and tousled Ruby's hair, eliciting a giggle. "We didn't slouch either. We put away almost as much as we took in. We have a decent stack."

"So, when you're done with-with helping me and Weiss, you two can get something of your own?" Ruby asked, trying to sound cheerful.

"Something of our own, yes." Sun narrowed his eyes at Ruby. "Wait, what did you think was gonna happen?"

"You two stick around for a month, maybe a few months." Ruby said. "Then you head off, wherever the wind takes you."

"Oh. Yeah, that's dumb." Sun said. "We're gonna open a shop with you and Weiss."

"Huh?" Ruby said.

"Oh, we'll give it a few months. Weiss needs to get on her feet. Best place for her to do that is in a kitchen. A real one. You've got that covered." Sun ashed his cigarette, stuffing the butt back into the pack. "Once she's feeling good, we wanted to ask her if she'd open a shop with us. With you."

Ruby launched herself at Sun, wrapping him in a hug, almost taking him overboard.

"Whoooooaaa!" Sun cried out, a death grip on the railing. "You'll never find the money if you kill me Ruby!"

"Sorry!" Ruby said, laughing. "I'm just so. . ." Tears started leaking out of her face. "I don't know how to help her Sun. And I didn't want to think you'd stay."

"Wow. How low you must think of me." Sun teased, returning her embrace.

"It's not that!" Ruby protested. "I just, I don't have much to offer you and Neptune. I didn't want to assume-"

"That'd it'd be enough?" Sun asked.

"…Yeah." Ruby grumbled.

"Where have I heard that before?" Sun said, scratching his head.

"Shut up shiny boy." Ruby said, gently pressing her fist against his head. She gently pulled away, wiping the tears from her eyes. She looked at the cigarette in her hand. "Shoot, I broke it."

"Probably for the best." Sun said, waving it off. He took the butt from her fingers, stuffing it inside the pack. "Self-harm doesn't work well. But when it does, it works best in small doses."

"Yeah." Ruby sniffed. She turned to face the ocean. "What kind of shop did you want to open?"

"No clue. Don't actually care." Sun shrugged. "We just want something that works. Something that keeps us alive, and feels good. You know?" Sun laced his fingers behind his head, chest puffed. He smiled at the sea, completely at ease.

"Yeah. Feels like Weiss might figure that one out, huh?" Ruby said, holding onto the railing. She leaned back on her heels, tilting her head to the sky.

"She is a damn good chef." Sun agreed. "Whatever she thinks we should do, it'll be worth doing."

"The hard part will be getting her to just say it." Ruby mused. "She'll agonize over spending your money."

"She'll get over it." Sun said. "If we do most of the financing, we can make a silly thing out of it so she feels better. Like, Weiss has to call us Dukes or something."

"We'll make her kiss your rings." Ruby giggled, imagining an armor-clad Weiss pledging fealty to the Dukes of Some Restaurant. "We'll make you both little crowns."

"That's the spirit!" Sun said, guffawing. "She'll get so annoyed!"

"Who'd get annoyed?" A voice asked.

Ruby whirled.

Weiss stood behind them. Bags under her eyes, whites flushed red from crying. She wore a simple white sun dress, her hair pinned back so it flowed over one shoulder. She held one wrist loosely with her hand. She wore flats, one toe digging into the deck nervously. She looked down the second Ruby looked to her.

Ruby smiled at Weiss, heart bursting. She stepped close, hand out.

"Hey. Come here." Ruby said gently. "Stand with me."

Nervously, Weiss took it. Ruby guided Weiss to the railing, one hand on her waist, the other draping across Weiss' belly. Ruby gave Weiss a small kiss on the cheek.

"How do you look this good after crying so much?" Ruby teased.

"I-It's a natural talent." Weiss said, putting on a brave smile. "Just one more reason I'm better than everyone."

"You don't have to force it." Sun said, resting his hand on Weiss' shoulder. "I've seen debbie-downer Weiss a lot over the years."

Weiss puffed her cheeks. She sputtered at Sun, rolling her eyes.

"That's more like it." Sun grinned. He pulled out a cigarette, lighting it for himself. He offered one to Weiss.

Weiss' hand twitched. She looked at the pack. Then at Sun.

"I'm good." Weiss said, shaking her head.

"Ah." Sun beamed. "Good." He took the cigarette from his mouth and returned it to the pack.

"You didn't answer my question." Weiss said, almost pouting. "Who's getting annoyed?"

"No one." Sun said, smirking.

"It's me, isn't it." Weiss dead-panned.

"No, nooooo. Never." Ruby said, a giggle betraying her sincerity.

"Why do people enjoy getting a rise out of me?" Weiss grumbled, leaning into Ruby.

"Because we love you and you're funny." Ruby said, resting her temple against Weiss' crown, her cheek tickled by Weiss' hair.

Weiss snorted.

"No, I didn't think it was possible either." Sun said. "For you to be funny, that is."

Weiss' face was aghast.

"I am hilarious." Weiss said, stomping her foot.

"Ooooow." Ruby groaned.

"Oh! Ruby!" Weiss pulled away. "Ruby I'm so sorry!"

"S'fine." Ruby said. "How is your ankle so sharp?"

Sun guffawed, holding his belly, trying to contain himself.

"Hey! What are you three doing?" A voice asked.

"Neptune!" Sun greeted, wiping a tear from his eye. "You left the cabin!"

Neptune stood on the deck, in a zipped leather jacket and navy blue pants. His eyes, covered by blue sunglasses, were locked firmly on the sky.

"Turns out, I can be on a boat." Neptune said, snapping his fingers in greeting. "I have beaten the sea!" He raised his fist in victory.

"Hoooray." Ruby said, shaking her foot. "I'm fine Weiss, really." She said, pulling Weiss' fingers from rubbing her back. "Really."

"Okay." Weiss said, nodding.

"You lovebirds alright?" Neptune asked, running a hand through his hair.

"Weiss cut Ruby's foot in half." Sun said casually.

"Ah, with her ankle?" Neptune asked, nodding in understanding.

"Will you all stop talking about my ankles!?" Weiss begged, beet red and still embracing Ruby.

"Sure." Neptune shrugged. "Which way is Patch?" He asked.

Sun walked over to Neptune and turned him towards the front of the boat.

"That way." Sun said, patting Neptune's back.

"Good." Neptune crossed his arms. "Can we see it?"

"We can." Weiss huffed.

"Cool." Neptune smiled. "Can't wait to get there."

"For dry land." Sun smirked.

"Actually, I've never been to Patch." Neptune said, raising a finger. "But I've heard it's great."

"It is." Ruby said warmly. "It's full of old forests and meadows. In the spring the whole island blooms with every flower you've ever heard of. You could spend the whole day with a pair of binoculars just looking at the birds. And you have to be careful walking through the forest."

"Why?" Sun asked.

"Boarbatusks. And turkeys. Mostly turkeys." Ruby answered.

"Turkeys." Weiss deadpanned.

"They're tough." Ruby said. She squeezed Weiss closer. "And every weekend there's a farmers Market in the streets of Signal. Once every three months, everyone goes all out for the monthly fair. Fried foods, performers, collabs between the vendors, contests and-oh! You can't forget the trampolines!" Ruby smiled wide.

"I can't wait to see it." Weiss said quietly.

"I can't wait to show you." Ruby said, planting another kiss on Weiss' cheek. "You're gonna love it. You're all going to love it." She said to Sun and Neptune.

"Sounds great." Sun said.

"It does sound amazing." Neptune sighed. He cleared his throat. "My neck is fucking sore."

Everyone laughed. Sun started making fun of Neptune, which quickly led to a publicly indecent battle of wits.

Ruby grinned at the pair's antics. She shifted her attention towards Patch. She could see a faint sliver of green sandwiched between the blue sky and the blue ocean. Ruby reached up, pressing her hand against Weiss' chest, feeling her heartbeat.

Weiss' hand reached up, clasping Ruby's.

"You ready?" Ruby whispered.

"No." Weiss answered. "But I've got you with me." Weiss squeezed Ruby's hand. "That's all I need."

~0~

This is the last chapter of this story. But there will be an epilogue. Then we'll put this one to rest, get on to fresh pastures. You have my gratitude for reading this far. And to those who waited patiently, I am especially grateful. I will articulate more thoroughly in the next AN, but I want you to know that this fic will finally be finished, and I appreciate you sticking around.