"I heard she decked him in the face?"
After he asked that, Ren meticulously inspected an electronic part. He sounded more astonished than anything and wanted to confirm the school's newest gossip.
"Wow, word travels fast," Ruby placed a tiny propeller onto the table. "While I wish she didn't resort to that so quickly, he deserved it."
Club activities had officially started, and practically the whole school discussed what happened not even fifteen minutes ago. Ren sat next to Ruby and Weiss, who were examining each robotic part to make sure they were in top condition to fuse together.
Ren heaved a sigh and looked at his friend. "I'm sorry that happened to you. Do you think he deserved it?"
"I think so," Ruby said with uncertainty and almost questioned herself.
Ren trusted her judgment and plopped a hand under his chin. "Yang's always laid back so I was surprised when I heard about it."
"She went easy on him. Keep in mind that he almost hit me," Ruby tried to defend. "He didn't bleed or anything. She has no chill when it comes to me."
"She went full mama bear," Ren said in amusement. "It's safe to say that Cardin hasn't changed. I almost believed him."
Based on last year, he had doubts. Cardin liked to spend his time bullying faunus. There's only so much a person like that can do to truly change. Ruby internally agreed as she picked up a tiny motor part.
"I don't know what his problem is. He hasn't talked to me all year long. He probably had a really bad day or something."
Weiss sat next to her tech partner and listened to the conversation. Until now, she was busy doing quality control of the parts. When Ruby empathized with the boy, Weiss almost scoffed.
"You had a bad last few days, Ruby," Weiss simply said, referring to her parents' deathaversary. "And you don't go around making others feel bad. You are empathizing with people who don't deserve it. You're much too kind-hearted."
Ruby slid over a few screws and gathered them in one place. "All I'm saying is we don't know his life."
Together, Ren and Weiss gazed at Ruby in disbelief.
Ren shook his head to disagree. "He could've really hurt you if Yang didn't step in."
Weiss liked his point and backed him up. "Again, you're too kind-hearted. He also made fun of you for being an orphan, Ruby. Even the most disturbed minds don't fathom that, much less do it."
How is Ruby such a sweetheart? Weiss asked herself. After everything that's happened to her?
Ren caught a screw that almost rolled off the table and put it back in the respective pile. "Couldn't have said it better."
Wanting to change the subject, Ruby asked. "Where's your partner, anyways?"
"Penny went home early."
"Ah," Ruby mumbled and looked at her partner. "Weiss, first thing we're gonna do is solder the bullet connectors to the motors and electronic speed controller."
From the information, Weiss was surprised she understood every word. Carefully, she grasped the respective, tiny parts and connected them together. Briefly, she wished her nails were shorter to make the process easier. She looked to Ruby for approval, which earned a kind smile.
"Perfect, you're a natural at this," Ruby encouraged. "Now, I'm gonna solder the electronic speed controller and battery connector to the drone power distribution board…"
If she had goggles, she could pass for a mad scientist, Weiss thought in amusement.
Meticulously, Ruby did exactly as she said. Without these parts, they were unable to control the tiny drone.
"Wow," Weiss almost whispered, excited their project was slowly coming together. "I actually kind of know what you're talking about. It's cool to see it all come together."
Ruby eagerly nodded and pointed to the four wings of the drone. "Do me a favor and screw in the motors a little more."
Right after Weiss did so, the bell rang. It was finally time to go home.
Dr. Oobleck darted to the front of the room. "Goodbye, students! Iwillseeyoualltomorrow!"
After Ruby and Weiss placed the parts in a locked safe, they ventured into the gym and over to the volleyball net. The volleyball team retreated inside the locker room save for Yang and Blake.
Quickly, Blake jogged over to Ruby and held onto her hands. Her expression softened to immense relief when she checked the red-hooded girl over.
"Are you okay?" Blake asked in exasperation. "I heard Cardin was about to hit you. That had to be scary."
When the faunus held her hands, Ruby blushed redder than her hoodie. She held her in an embrace and reassured her. "If he hit me, he would be the one to truly suffer. He didn't even hit me and he still suffered."
When she answered, Blake let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. While Yang reassured her before that Ruby was fine, it was better to see it with her own eyes.
"Rubes," Yang called and subtly smirked when she noted they were still holding hands. "We have grief therapy this weekend."
They didn't attend before? Weiss thought, surprised.
"What?" Ruby asked, so caught off guard that she practically jumped. "But we agreed we don't have the money for that."
"Glyn paid for it," Yang revealed, which caused Ruby's jaw to drop. "I know right, she's the best."
An immense weight felt like it lifted off Blake's shoulders. Now that the sisters could receive professional help, they could begin to properly heal. "That's awfully generous of her."
I didn't realize their relationship was that close, Weiss thought. They certainly act like any other students with her. Probably for Ms. Goodwitch to avoid blatant favoritism.
Yang rubbed the back of her head and almost bit her tongue. "We owe her, so I'm ugh… Gonna read the whole book," she said painfully like the words tasted bad in her mouth.
Weiss almost laughed at her reaction. Oh my god, it pained her to say that. Is she that incorrigible?
Ruby sighed, but knew it was the right thing to do. That was the least she could do to repay her teacher. "I will, too."
Blake lightly chuckled. "Well, that answered my ages-long question," she said, which earned raised eyebrows. "What would it possibly take for Yang to read a whole book? Punching a guy."
Weiss crossed her arms and looked at Yang. "Sounds about right. Normally, I would tell you how much of a brute you are."
Blonde eyebrows arched in suspicion.
"But all I have to say is good job," Weiss finished with a smug smirk.
From her praise, Yang beamed a sunny smile. She'd been worried about how Weiss would react to her antics. It seemed that worry was for nothing.
Casually, Yang tossed the volleyball up and caught it. "C'mon. Let's hit a few."
Weiss shook her head. "I can't play volleyball."
"Anyone can, you'll do great," Yang encouraged. "Just a couple bumps?"
Since it seemed like Yang had a rough day, Weiss gave in easily.
"Fine."
I'm going to regret this, but seeing her smile is worth it.
Yang pumped her fist with joy. "Yes!"
The blonde jogged back a few steps and twirled the ball with her fingers.
"Alright, ice princess. You gotta squat and put your hands together, but your thumbs need to be on top. Unless you want to break them."
"Tempting," Weiss said as she crouched.
Easily, Weiss got into position. Flirtatiously, Yang gave her a wolf whistle.
A tinge of red appeared on Weiss' cheeks. "Throw it already, blonde brute."
Yang tossed the ball over, and she was impressed that Weiss moved her whole body to bump it rather than only her arms. That tended to be a rookie mistake. She was beginning to question if Weiss had played volleyball before moving here.
"Nice!" Yang praised as she caught the ball. "Let's see your set. Only use your fingertips. You'll have more control that way."
While she was almost certain Weiss had played before, she wanted to see if she'd be lectured that she didn't need instructions.
Visibly, Weiss took a deep breath as she watched the ball descend onto her. She set it with perfection, only to grimace and grasp her wrist right after. It flared in familiar pain that she'd never grown used to.
Damn him.
Yang approached her in worry. "What's wrong? Your form was perfect, did that hurt?"
"I told you," Weiss gritted her teeth in pain. "I can't play volleyball. Not anymore."
The revelation and the way she said it had Yang's heart ripping in half. Her voice cracked with sadness and pain. Her mind seemed to wander somewhere else when she stared down at her throbbing wrist.
"What?" Yang asked in confusion. "What happened?"
From the question, Weiss frowned and held her wrist like she was afraid to move it. Her face was still a grimace, eyebrows furrowed.
"Agh, stay right there," Yang said, thinking her pain took priority to address, rather than her own question. "I'll get you some ice."
Determined, Yang began to jog to the door.
Confused, Weiss asked as she opened the door. "Where?"
"Teacher's lounge!"
How's she also… so nice?
The ol' wrist injury strikes again.
Stay dandy,
~Toto