6. Untold Duty
"Dismissed!" The sergeant shouted, allowing the group of Vale militants and a couple of Huntsmen to go.
The militants headed mostly the same way - to the warehouse serving as a place to rest for the military staff. Some, though, went to the medical one. To see their friends and families.
A soft sigh escaped Weiss' lips as she turned towards the field hospital. It's been two days since that night and the defenders made a cohesive plan of survival - including search parties to find more people or supplies.
It was all organized very well - starting with the desired composition of the teams and on schedule ending. The Faunus were assigned to night duty, since most of them saw way better in the dark than humans did. Every party had at least one Huntsman or Huntress - even if just a student. For versatility and security, if not anything else.
Militants were assigned to the rescue and scavenge operations. Their knowledge of the city layout and compact equipment served well in such duty.
The Atlassian white-clads had a different task at hand.
They were trained for the frontline duty, their set of skills far from fighting in small formations in the narrow streets and alleys of the Vale city.
While the Militia alongside the Huntsmen were scouting the city, constantly on the run for the entire day, these scavenging and rescue parties rarely had to fight anything bigger than a pack of Beowulves. Mostly, these missions were relatively safe with a couple of ground Grimm and some flying ones trying their luck against the organized movement and weaponry of the militia and Huntsmen.
It was so easy only because the Grimm were constantly beckoned to one specific spot of the city. Even as she walked, Weiss could hear muffled explosions, their sound carried through the sky as they went off - it was far away after all.
As she looked to her right, she saw another battalion of the Atlassian soldiers readying up for departure. Some seemed nervous, some were standing like dead pillars as their officer was addressing them sharply, explaining their course of action - which meant joining the combat zone and exchanging their comrades who fought there for the last twelve hours. Despite their various levels of stress though, all of them were focused, determined.
They were all stacked with equipment, ammunition and explosives procured from the nearby warehouses of the Industrial District. At least coming here was a correct tactical decision, Weiss mused.
Which was the only tactical decision he did not make.
It was Gerhard's idea, the lure. Understanding enough about the Grimm, he knew that pulling them away would benefit the defenders and it would cost them little, overall.
The Heiress still remembered how two days ago the Space Marine marched out with the first combat group, how he spoke to the white-clad soldiers and how they reacted to his words. It was terrifying.
His combat zeal was infectious. The Grimm were drawn in by negative emotions, and while no soldier around him felt fear anymore, many started feeling rage and hatred. Weiss couldn't argue that unleashing these emotions out there helped the rest of the defenders.
Unorthodox though it was, none would deny the effectiveness of such a tactic. People could rest, eat and scavenge the city for more supplies thanks to the hateful defiance of the military led by the otherworldly being. Weiss, just like anybody else, could afford a sensible amount of rest only thanks to the efforts of the frontline.
Was he burdened? The Heiress wondered over the existence of Gerhard. His very being defied anything Remnant stood for and yet instead of bending to the circumstances, the Knight paved a path for himself and people around him in a matter of hours. People were afraid of him - she was afraid of him. But it never once stopped him from doing not only what he thought was needed and right but also what was objectively necessary for the survival of the people.
The girl closed her eyes sharply and shook her head to the side as if to throw out an unwelcome thought.
Torque Winchester was the first victim of the Space Marine. An actual victim of his ruthless methods and philosophy. Weiss recalled the news shared among the Huntsmen and Huntresses - first by Cardin's team, his friends. The look on their faces…
Then it was confirmed by one of the Councilors of Vale. His face, his body language - the man was so terribly scared of the events that were already behind him. He apologized and apologized to Cardin, cheeks wet with salty tears. But it was Cardin that etched his visage in Weiss' mind.
He was empty. His eyes were red and swollen, his hair a mess and his armor and weapon nowhere to be found. Truly an empty shell of a boastful man he once was. Rumor had it that he tried to avenge his father - that he met Gerhard. Nobody dared to approach, to listen in. But since then, Cardin was not the same.
How far would it all go? How much of Remnant would still be Remnant after the Chaplain?
Her thoughts were interrupted at the entrance to the medical warehouse as she nearly crashed into a girl with raven-black, long hair and a bowtie of the same color decorating the top of her head. A bowtie that hid her cat ears of a Faunus.
Her teammate and friend, Blake Belladonna.
It was an awkward meeting. Like any other ever since this whole tragedy happened. Whenever they met, Blake would never look into her eyes for longer than a couple of seconds and any attempt of holding any sort of conversation was futile.
Two nights ago she was found here with their teammate and Ruby's older sister, Yang… or what was left of her. Only this morning the blonde brawler regained her consciousness.
"How's Yang?" Weiss asked, cutting straight to the point. She wanted to talk to her friend almost desperately, risking even the unpleasant topic as a point of beginning.
Weiss fully expected Blake to simply pass next to her in haste to join her scavenging squad - as a Faunus the night was her duty.
Yet, what the white-haired girl saw surprised her slightly and positively. Instead of dodging the question, Blake looked like she tried to find words to reply with.
"She… She's…" The Faunus girl started, words clearly unwilling to come out of her throat, "Trying to put up a front." She finished finally, her golden eyes focused on the ground.
Weiss noticed the black bowtie flattening a little, clearly in response to the cat ears of her friend forcing the movement. It was the first time since the attack that Weiss saw any emotion coming out from Blake.
"I see. We will support her, all of us." Weiss replied, trying to reassure her friend. They were a team, she, Blake and the sisters. And they would be one still after this - Weiss kn… wanted that.
"I have to go." Blake replied almost immediately, trying to pass next to Weiss in a hurry.
She was stopped by a slim hand holding her wrist. A firm, yet far from forceful grip of Weiss' own hand.
"Blake, wait. Please. It's been two days since we last talked. I know such questions may be out of place now, but how are you holding up?" She asked with soft affection.
"I have to go," Blake repeated, trying to pull herself away, "My team is waiting for me."
Yet, Weiss didn't let go. She knew what she was doing was dangerous - Blake was a very independent individual after all. Any similar acts of trying to get her to talk or do anything that she clearly did not want to do was bordering on aggressive rejection.
But Weiss was worried for her friend. Tired of seeing her suffocating with her own thoughts.
"We are your team! You still have about fifty minutes before you go out. I can see something is eating away at you! Let me help!" The Heiress pushed.
She quickly regretted this decision though, as Blake's face stiffened and she pulled even stronger. This time Weiss let go of her friend, not willing to give her any more reason for agitation.
"Help me?! You can't help me! Nobody can!" The dark-haired girl lashed out, throwing her hands outwards. Then she pointed at herself with her thumb, "I must deal with my problems! By myself, or more people wi-" She cut herself mid-word, realizing what she almost said.
It was enough though.
"Or more people will suffer. Is that what you wanted to say?" Weiss finished carefully, gently. Seeing Blake's reaction, her quick attempt to turn around and leave, she dashed forward to catch her.
Weiss did not launch her hands to grab her friend's wrists, nor did she try to bar her way. Her slender hand landed on Blake's shoulder and pulled it to force the girl to turn around. Even if she lost her balance, even if she cussed under her nose - it was alright.
Amidst the struggles of Vale, the daily experiences filled with suffering and death it was easy to forget how much one had to endure. Things that people have seen, things they heard. It all was taking a toll on everybody and Weiss was no exception. She simply had a rough idea how to deal with it - at least for the time being.
And her friend might not have been so lucky to know that. She's been always troubled by her past, her own demons. And ever since she brought Yang…
Weiss embraced the taller girl into a hug.
She didn't talk. Sometimes words were inadequate, harmful even. Blake did not need words, nor she'd listen to them even if the Brothers themselves appeared before her and told her, what to do, how things stood.
Her friend needed comfort, support - Weiss knew her long enough to notice it even without the silent treatment. So she kept her arms locked gently around Blake, her pale face resting against the dark-haired girl's shoulder.
And suddenly, the world seemed borderline unimportant. The warm sensation of the embrace, Blake's own heart beating almost directly to Heiress' own ear was akin to a feeling she thought long lost and forgotten. They were all so busy. Missions, falling asleep quickly due to exhaustion, waking up for a mission again. Scarce amounts of whatever food was available, everything fairly distributed among the hundreds of sheltered civilians, soldiers and Huntsmen, the sound of explosions throughout the day and night, constant reassurances to the afraid ones.
Duty, duty, duty.
There was no life of a young girl there. No life of an Atlassian noble, no life of a student. And it was just the same for everybody else - all of them left alone with their thoughts, their worries. Guilt overtaking memories of those who saw death and could do nothing to prevent it. A choking feeling of crushing helplessness. And they all had to keep going.
Perhaps it is exactly why Weiss held onto Blake tightly - she didn't know she needed such comfort herself.
And then, after a while that seemed an eternity, hands of her friend rose slowly, their shaking palms resting on the slightly aching back of Weiss. The Faunus girl returned the embrace with the same vigor and Weiss felt as the body of her friend trembled slightly in unison with her rapid sobs.
Blake was crying.
It was then that Weiss squeezed her into an even stronger embrace, cursing the existence of the Valean militia vest that both of them wore for safety and utility. These things were sturdy, had a lot of pockets, but these things were in the way, now. So much in the way!
They stood motionless for a couple of minutes. None of them spoke, allowing their emotions to be told by their embrace, allowing their tears to speak of their struggles. They both needed it - they all needed it.
And finally, when Blake broke the embrace, she looked calm. Her cheeks were wet with what remained of her tears, her amber eyes reddened from the act. She first looked at Weiss, then into the sea, meaning to tell her something.
"I want to leave. I… I want to leave so much, Weiss." She said quietly, every word a little hoarse.
Instead of telling her not to, Weiss decided to remain silent and listen. She somehow knew it was not the only thing she wanted to say.
"But I know I can't." Blake finished bitterly, looking back at Weiss with eyes full of pain. These were the eyes of somebody so afraid they were afraid even of showing it. A conflict of bravado and sheer desire to abandon everything and just leave.
Blake was a caged bird, beset by hungry predators all around her it seemed, all ready to claim her life one way or another.
And while Weiss could feel sympathy for her friend, she did not understand this feeling. For Weiss it was not a matter of being trapped, she wanted not to flee - not when people needed her. And she knew that was the reason Blake also stayed in Vale.
"I… I miss my family. I want to see my mom and dad." Blake said reluctantly, "I want to know, how are they? Are they safe? Worried? I…" She struggled to continue, but any words seemed to fall flat inside her throat, stuck on something the girl did not understand.
"I see," Weiss replied, looking towards the sea. She felt a sting of jealousy as Blake could even say those words. "We will get to your family as soon as we can, Blake. I promise."
Blake smiled weakly at these words. Brothers, she did not believe them just as much as Weiss - if not more. But she seemed to appreciate the gesture. The girl nodded to the Heiress as she wiped her eyes.
"Thanks, Weiss." She said and looked to the sea again with a faint smile. For a moment the Atlassian girl hoped against the world that at least for now both her and Blake could have a moment of respite.
In the dying light of the sun, the Faunus looked beautiful. Her somber demeanor and dim reflections of the sun danced weakly in her black hair, ravaged by the unrelenting wind - it looked nigh mesmerizing. Many an artist would beg her to stay still even if for a minute to capture the essentials of what would no doubt become a testimony to struggles each and every living being was going through. Victims of war, cruelty, circumstances. Even poverty or illness.
She looked so wistful, so tired and so troubled. Fighting whatever was tearing away at her with all her might and tools at disposal - like the uncharacteristic militia vest, contrasting with her otherwise ambitious attire of white and black fabric.
"... Blake?" Weiss asked, seeing that Blake clearly was choking on something deep down within her, "Blake, what is wrong?" She asked quietly, carefully.
In response, Blake looked back at her utterly defeated.
"We… There was…" The girl started, struggling against her own words, "Sun came to save us." She said with a finishing note that stated clearly that she wanted not to be asked questions, so Weiss remained silent. It clearly looked like Blake wanted to continue - just needed time to do it. Yet, the way she hesitated, the fact alone that it was the first time anybody heard anything about Sun Wukong, a Faunus student from the Kingdom of Vacuo in these days did not bode well for the message itself.
Regardless, Weiss remained silent, unconsciously clenching her teeth.
"He told me to run. As he fought back against him I simply ran away. I ran away with Yang and did not even look back." Blake said, looking straight into her friend's eyes, "Weiss, Sun is dead because of me!" The girl finished with her voice falling apart, fresh streams of salt marking their way on her cheeks.
The Faunus girl gasped, took a step back and hid her nose and mouth in her hands. She seemed to see a scene that terrified her to the very core of her being.
She started apologizing under her nose, blaming herself, wishing that neither Yang nor Sun ever found her.
Weiss stepped closer to her friend once again and cupped her face into her hands, trying to focus Blake on herself, rather than whatever plagued her mind.
She didn't even know what she was whispering into her ears, or when she embraced her fully. What did it matter, when her friend - the most collected and calm person she ever knew broke down so easily?
Blake bottled these memories, these emotions were trapped in her mind for two days. She spoke to nobody, aside from Ruby - and even then, it was but a brief apology with no explanation. She avoided everybody, ever so eager to go on yet another mission.
She wanted to occupy her mind, to not think about it all.
"Shhh, it's okay Blake. It's okay. Breathe, please. Just breathe." Weiss said softly, kept repeating those words, while caressing the back of her friend's head. For all it was worth, it worked after a bit of time.
Blake's breath leveled itself, her eyes regained their focus. Focus on Weiss' own eyes of icy blue.
What happened there? The Heiress had been asking herself this question since she saw Yang. Ruby was asking the same question - though far more aggressively. And Blake? Blake simply left then and there without another word, avoiding everybody but Yang, whom she checked upon every morning and evening for any signs of improvement.
There at least Ruby couldn't stay mad at her for long - not in the same fashion, at least. Blake cared, was troubled and suffered.
Weiss led her friend to some crates nearby, removed from the warehouse a day ago or so. She sat Blake on one of them and sat next to her, wrapping her arm around the Faunus and placing the other on her still shaking hand.
"What happened, Blake?" The pale girl asked softly, leaning in, "If you don't want to talk, just tell me. But you started, you seem to want to talk about it… And I'm here for you, remember that."
Her friend looked at her with eyes full of sorrow. If one saw this scene from the side and knew of their backgrounds, this scene would be unimaginable.
One, an heiress to the largest dust company on the planet, which in recent years seemed to shift its employment practices towards exploit - especially of the Faunus. The kingdom of Atlas was known for distrust towards them, after the White Fang - a freedom fighting group for Faunus - turned to active terrorism.
The same group Blake was a member of not too long ago, with her parents as founders of back then peaceful organization. Yet, ever since they left, it turned towards much more aggressive politics.
The black-haired girl hesitated once again, though a level of resolve could be noticed within her motions and struggles. Weiss did not try to hurry her up, and finally her lips parted as she still tried to find the good words to begin.
"I tried," She said, almost spitting out the words out of effort, "I really, really tried. At Beacon, he found me. Found me all the way here! I was so scared, Weiss…" Her voice was shaky just as her hand. Weiss rubbed her thumb against said hand, trying to at least remind her that she was not alone.
Weiss decided to skip a question about the mysterious man. Should the moment arise, Blake would tell her.
"I tried to escape, but he wouldn't let me! I-I couldn't run, there was nowhere to run! And then Yang showed up," Blake paused, "She tried to fight. To defend me… stupid! Why would she? She should've left! That way, she'd still be alright!" The girl rambled, spiraling herself deeper into blame, each word faster, more forceful than the last one.
"But you wouldn't. Blake, whatever happened there, I know I would do exactly what Yang did. So would Ruby." Weiss replied calmly, softly.
"Then the problem lies in me!" Blake retaliated quickly, snapping her gaze at the white-haired girl, "Always had. My past… My mistakes." She paused again. "He defeated her in one blow, severing her arm. She's lost consciousness… He stood over her body, threatening to kill her. Dared me to defend Yang, counted to five before striking… I tried. Every… damned… time I tried so hard… But I couldn't. Everytime he wounded her more and more, Weiss. Her screams, his laughter… I-I was so powerless…! I couldn't do anything!"
Weiss looked with horror as her friend did her best not to break down again. To finish the story, explain everything. But to her, even listening to it was sickening. What kind of monster was that man? Whoever he was, he savored Blake's suffering - and Yang's, too.
A true monster. Sadistic, cruel.
And then the rest of the story simply popped in Weiss' head. She opened her eyes wider.
"Sun arrived and allowed you two to escape." She said with a horrified realization.
Blake just nodded in response, swallowing her sorrow bitterly.
"Have you seen…?" Weiss asked quietly, carefully. She hoped the implication was enough to carry the whole message.
Blake shook her head in response.
"No. I ran with Yang, before I even realized." Blake's voice grew raspy, tired. Numb, even.
"Then there is hope! He could've survived-"
"Have you listened to me, Weiss? I couldn't run away from him and my Semblance is perfect for decoying, running." The golden eyes of Blake were focused on Weiss bitterly.
"And Sun is a resourceful and cunning man." The Heiress riposted sternly. She did not like that guy too much - he was unruly, curious to the point of annoyance, oblivious like a log and to top it all, he was a thief. But he was a Huntsman-in-training and a good person. He wouldn't let himself be killed just like that, she was sure of it.
Then, the Atlasian girl smiled ever so slightly, losing any notion of her steely stubbornness in favor of warm belief.
"Please, Blake. Don't torment yourself. Yang is alive and so is Sun. I'm sure of it." The Heiress wanted to believe the last words with at least half the conviction she said them with.
Her friend wanted to reply, to counter but her bowtie twitched as she heard her name. The girl turned her head towards a Vale militant running towards her.
"Here you are, Blake! Come, our briefing starts soon." He was a common looking man in mid-thirties. Short, black hair, unshaved. No one would blame him, given the circumstances.
His eyes? Oh right, a Faunus. A cat, probably.
Without another word, Blake rose from her seat and approached the man, not even sparing a glance over to Weiss. The Heiress wanted to stop her friend, though she didn't know exactly why. To discuss the matter further? To simply spend some more time with the most elusive and reclusive member of team RWBY?
Either way, she did not speak up, simply watching as her friend made her way towards the assembling spot of her team. It seemed their car needed some repairs, a couple of people working around the machine.
And then, Blake stopped. The girl didn't turn around more, than tilt her head to the side, barely enough for Weiss to see the lonely eye of her friend.
"Good bye, Weiss." The Faunus girl said with an almost hollow tone to her words and continued to march on for her mission.
The Atlassian reached her hand after Blake. She couldn't stop her. They all had their duty now as general Ironwood talked about giving them the Huntsman license after the current situation was finished.
Weiss looked into the sky. It was becoming dark not only by the evergrowing night, but thick, black clouds looming over the city of Vale like a bad omen. It was silent yet, but there was little doubt that a storm was brewing. One of the last ones in this season, she agreed.
As Blake disappeared with her militia scavenging team, the Atlassian student rose from her own seat and slowly made her way towards the medical warehouse.
After two days of constant work to make the available space as efficient and comfortable as it was possible, Weiss appreciated the work that's been done for that place. As crude as it may have been, it was arranged well, with walls of crates separating a small section for surgeries, where numerous people were lined up on just as crude seats, or lying in their stretchers.
How lucky she was. Unfairly so even, she mused. The girl walked softly among makeshift beds of blankets, whatever other fabric or wooden planks, each and every inhabitant looking worse than the previous one. Mauled, with broken limbs, some even missing a limb. She walked perfectly fine and healthy, while they were suffering so much. So many of these people were found after the initial reorganization of the stronghold. After Winchester.
Everytime Weiss walked in there, she believed her eye was a stroke of luck or a gift from fate itself. She could have ended up so much worse, after all.
And the deeper she went, the stronger was the stench of disinfectants, alcohol, blood and even bile. People suffered on so many different levels and it was up to those who could fight to save them. It was their duty. A duty to save life and fight the Grimm.
Help from Atlas was on the way. They had to hold on just a little longer.
Finally, the girl stopped by one of the "beds" at the wall. Ruby was ever present by her sister, just as Weiss left her in the morning. Poor girl, she nearly attacked the guy that tried to pull her to her job - if it wasn't for Yang herself telling her off in the coldest way Weiss had ever heard her speak.
Yang Xiao Long - a beauty, a brawler, a free spirit. One of the best older sisters this world had ever had an honor of harboring, a great friend with good advice and stubbornness matched only by her strength.
A girl who would pay any price for her friends, now laid broken in an unbecoming set of sheets, with rags and blankets forming a pillow that supported her frame into a semi-sitting position.
And she looked horrible.
Her right arm was missing - cut clean on her bicep. Her left arm also was not spared, though this one was bandaged heavily just below the elbow. The rest of this arm bore a couple of scars - straight, visible scars as if a chef tried to mark a meat to cut.
From under the ragged sheets only one foot could be seen - the right leg of her friend was cut above the knee.
The girl was wrapped with blankets to mask the missing limbs and numerous, clean scars on her body. Only the scar on her neck and face couldn't be hidden like that. The latter was a long and gnarly one, stretching from her forehead across nose down the right cheek all the way to her jawline, where it jagged upwards, forming a grotesque hook.
Only her golden bangs prevented the world from seeing the empty eyes of a mutilated person, who was not covered in bandages only thanks to Jaune and his Semblance.
Each and every injury Weiss knew about suddenly felt even more painful. The sheer thought of the torture she endured because of some sick bastard was revolting, enraging. Her friend became a canvas of sadism for somebody Weiss truly wanted to kill.
Kill?
The girl blinked, as she stopped in her tracks. She felt her heart pumping, cheeks flushing with heat and hands clenched into fists so tight they could as well be made of granite.
For the first time in her life, Weiss felt true spite and hatred, and whoever dared to hurt Yang and Blake so much deserved nothing but pain and suffering of untold magnitude!
She would find that man. Whatever it would take, she would find him and make him pay for every-
"Weiss?"
The Atlassian blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. She looked at Ruby, whose voice she just heard. Soft, slightly tired and full of concern.
"Yes, Ruby. I'm back." The girl replied with a weak smile, approaching the sisters and knelt on the opposite side of Yang.
"Why are you crying?" The young leader asked carefully.
Only then did Weiss realize she could barely see her friends. Her cheeks felt a little itchy from the tears lazily running down her skin. She brought her sleeve up and wiped her eyes.
"Something must've gotten into my eye. The one I have problems with." She smiled.
"You talked to Blake, didn't you?" Ruby asked bluntly, focusing her silver eyes on Weiss. Yang's head twitched.
"N-No, I… Yes. Yes, I did." Weiss replied, turning her head away, "She…" The girl tilted her head to actually see Yang with her left eye, "She told me, what happened at Beacon."
It was then that the young Heiress saw, no, felt Yang's eyes upon herself. Half-closed, empty eyes of lilac color. The older of the sisters looked at her without a hint of emotion that would betray her factual state. Was she angry? Sad? Fearful?
For the first time in her life, Weiss saw Yang Xiao Long silent and subdued. Gone was the lust for life, there were no hints of energy of any kind - even that of revenge against her assailant.
Who could blame her though? She'd survived hell by a stroke of luck, severely injured, destroyed. The Atlassian dreaded imagining what she would look like or how she'd feel like in her stead.
For some odd reason though, Weiss felt a very tiny portion of her wishing to sit there instead of Yang. To see her smile again, share her infectious energy to all around her, instead of watching her exist as a shadow of former self.
The blonde looked away the moment she heard Ruby's voice.
"Why didn't she tell me?" The brunette asked, agitated. Weiss couldn't blame her in all honesty. Blake was able to share these events not with the sister but merely a friend of the injured. It's been a source of negativity between the two, their relationship strained.
She looked hurt.
Weiss sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. Ruby clearly lacked the view of the bigger picture and even though Weiss should exercise more care now, she couldn't help but be annoyed by her oblivious and impatient friend.
She could continue the topic, allowing herself to be dragged through Ruby's questions and annoyance.
Icy blue eyes rested on Yang again. Weiss smiled ever so slightly at her friend.
"Yang, I've procured something for you." She said softly, looking at Ruby for just a fraction of a moment as she reached into one of her vest's pockets. To her credit, Ruby did take a hint.
From her pocket, Weiss pulled a small paper tube of caramel color. A hard caramel candy, very popular among various groups of Remnant, an old specialty of Vale itself: Walter's Original.
Yang loved these, even though she fiercely tried to pretend she did not. After all, it was most popular among the elderly and being compared to one was on the very top of the list Yang hated. Right next to anybody touching her hair.
But, she did not react. The blonde kept staring somewhere onto the sheets, head hung slightly.
Weiss and Ruby looked at each other somewhat awkwardly and the young Schnee placed the caramel tube onto Yang's legs gently. It was heartbreaking, to see Yang so cleansed of any visible energy to live, to go on.
Like a withering tree, its branches cut and broken, roots pulled out of the ground callously to see the strength being sapped away by the uncaring world.
Yang did not react at all, to both Weiss' and Ruby's dismay. Her face didn't tense in annoyance or anger, nor did it crack into a sob. It was a mask of emotionless defeat - a canvas of tragedy, painted with a skillful hand of somebody, who just lost everything.
Ruby picked up the candies with enthusiasm - a fake one, forced one. Weiss couldn't blame her - she did what she could, tried what she could to lift her sister's spirit.
"Thanks, Weiss!" The young leader proclaimed cheerfully and then leaned a bit forward to catch a glimpse of Yang's eyes, "Whatcha say, Yang? Want some?" She asked.
Unsurprisingly, the blonde did not reply, not immediately at least. She sat there, like a broken doll, her breath steady and leveled. Weiss dreaded even asking herself what was going through her friend's mind, though, regardless how dark her thoughts were - she was ready to help her. She would support her by any means she could, for Yang did not deserve such fate and it would not be the last of Xiao Long the world would see.
"Sleep." Came a barely audible voice of Yang, slightly raspy and with no weight or emotion to them. Like a soft winter wind the word came and went, leaving nothing but a sense of uneasiness among the girls.
Ruby's face froze. She was about to shatter - Weiss saw that, she knew her friend long enough to know it was coming. But Ruby did not bend to her feelings, unwilling to add more fuel to the fire of misery, probably. Instead, she smiled softly and nodded, her hands reaching up to Yang's shoulders to help her get into a more comfortable sleeping position.
And as the blonde laid down into her mattress, she turned her back towards Weiss and that was the end of any interaction from Yang's side.
The Atlassian girl looked up at her partner. The pale face of Ruby turned into one of pain and sadness immeasurable. She tried so hard to help her sister that needed her so much. She did everything in her power to support her, but what good can a fifteen year old girl do in such a situation? How can she help herself in the first place?
She got enrolled into Beacon two years early and while nobody could be prepared for what was happening, the leader of team RWBY tried her best for others, overlooking herself.
Weiss saw already how such negligence took a toll over the brunette. She was nervous, she was getting rash - Blake was the prime example of Ruby's strained psyche.
"Come, Ruby. I think you need a break." Weiss said, pulling herself up from the ground.
As Ruby lifted her head up to meet her friend's eyes it was clear she wanted to argue. But the moment her silver eyes met Weiss' icy blue, all her opposition vanished in an instant. It was not a stern face of insistence, nor was it an impatient look of a troubled girl. It was a calm visage of a concerned friend, filled with sad warmth and compassion.
For a fraction of a second, Ruby seemed mesmerized, perhaps unused to seeing Weiss this soft. Indeed, the young Schnee was known for her rather cold demeanor and professional, detached approach.
Then the Red Reaper looked back at her sister, her closed eyes and face of stone. She placed the paper tube of candy next to her and stood up, concern still plastered all over her face.
They left the warehouse in complete silence, neither of them sparing even a glance at any other inhabitant of the building. To see their pain, their sorrowful looks…
That spark of hope. Hope that Weiss dreaded to think of if they failed. Such a burden was placed on all of their shoulders - and they haven't even finished the first year of their huntsman studies. It was not callousness that made them look detached from the plight of the Valean people.
It was fear of failing them.
And then, in Weiss' mind a black-clad knight of grim appearance and intimidating aura appeared. His red visors were locked onto her, an artificial visage of death.
While we live, we stand! While we stand, we fight! For those who sacrificed their lives are heroes! They showed defiance against the terrors of Grimm and saved lives tenfold!
She heard his voice echoing in her head. Gerhard's words the day he marched out with the strike force to fight the monsters away from docks.
He was right, as much as she hated to admit it. Weiss knew that as long as she could stand herself, she would protect these people. The injured, children, mothers…
Friends.
She tilted her head right to look at Ruby. Her slumped back, silver eyes locked on the ground as she walked.
Weiss placed her hand on her friend's shoulder, to which the brunette reacted by glancing over at her.
"I won't tell you not to worry, Ruby. I know I can't, because I worry just as much myself. But I will tell you that we'll get through it. Atlas rescue is on the way and this tactic that Gerhard invented works wonders for safety." She said with a reassuring smile. One that was so desperately needed these days.
Ruby looked away, delicately shaking her head.
"I'm not worried about it. I mean, I am but… I know we can do it. We have to," the young leader replied, then looked to the right for a second before looking back at Weiss, her silver eyes determined, "Weiss, what happened to Yang and Blake?"
The Atlassian stopped. It was perhaps fifteen feet away from the entrance to the warehouse.
She knew this question was coming - or rather that she would tell her about the encounter, preparing for it ever since she entered the medical building in the first place.
Weiss nodded and led Ruby to the same stack of crates she sat on previously with Blake and told her everything.
She told her what happened to Yang, how Blake was visibly suffering and tried to deal with it somehow. With each word, every revelation, Ruby's face turned more into one of horror, replacing her initial expression of readiness.
The Heiress didn't blame her, for who could learn such a thing and keep a straight face?
At the end of it, the young leader was crying, streams of salt running down her pale cheeks. Her hands were gripping edges of the crate she was sitting on to the point of her knuckles turning white.
"Why?" She asked, voice shaking through her sobs, "Why Yang? Wh-" A question cut short, as Ruby's eyes closed tight and she hung her head.
What could Weiss say to explain it? What answer would provide even a slight amount of relief to her partner? What could be said to ease the pain of having one's sibling mutilated so grievously just to play around with somebody's mind?
"Would you act differently in Yang's place?" Weiss asked calmly, kneeling before Ruby and placing a hand on her shoulder in an act of support.
"... No." Ruby replied after a longer while. Whether it was denial of her own nature or a deep wish Yang's decision was irrational, Weiss didn't know nor she would ask.
Weiss smiled softly, her other hand reaching to caress Ruby's head.
"I wouldn't either. For whatever it's worth, I am sure Yang doesn't regret it and she's certainly glad Blake is alive. I know I am and so you are, right?" Weiss said, her voice soft and full of affection and understanding.
"What about Yang though? What if she never again… You know. What if she won't be herself anymore?" Ruby's voice was tired, slightly raspy from all the strain of her cries. Her silver eyes were locked onto eyes, full of doubt and worry.
Weiss blinked in response, her smile turning heavy.
"I don't know how long it may take her to heal, or if she will ever be the same. But she's not alone and whatever awaits her, Yang won't face anything alone - and in that, she may find comfort and strength."
These words came from the bottom of Weiss' heart and she believed in them incredibly. So much so that Ruby herself seemed to regain some of her former energy, as she embraced Weiss strongly, with a true smile of relief and appreciation on her tired face.
The Heiress felt the strength of her friend's embrace, fingertips pressing against her vest as if she was afraid that Weiss would be suddenly torn away from her.
"It's okay, Ruby. You don't have to bear it alone. I am here for you, we all are." Weiss said silently, almost lulling, as she rubbed circles on Ruby's back.
"Thanks, Weiss." Ruby replied in an almost serene voice, "I don't know what I… We would do without you, really."
The younger girl pulled away from the hug and looked over Weiss' face.
"You seem somehow even more mature and wise than you already did, you know?" Ruby almost chirped. She sounded almost exactly as she usually did back at Beacon. It was a welcome change, like a sip of fresh water on a deadly desert.
Another thing Weiss didn't realize she needed almost desperately.
She chuckled once in response, to which Ruby also chuckled. And a second later they both shared a soft, tired and somewhat awkward giggle. It felt, like some incredible weight simply vanished from her shoulders, a tight chain enveloped around her heart broke like an evil enchantment.
A simple act of something normal bore almost as much power to it as saving life. It wasn't stronger or weaker - simply different power. One, that all people needed in their daily, mundane lives.
Weiss pondered Ruby's words. Was she really that different from herself from these couple days back?
Well, certainly she was different from Weiss from the first days of school - the mere thought made the Atlassian cringe. Oh, was she insufferably entitled and burdensome! And even then, Ruby was there, unfazed. Yang was there, unfazed. Blake was there - detached though she may have been.
Team RWBY was there for Weiss through her good and bad moments.
And now that her team was scarred, full of pain, doubt, sorrow and sadness - she would be there for them.
Such was her Duty. Duty of Weiss Schnee, a member of team RWBY, a friend to them all. Duty of a person that suffered the least of them and saw their anguish. Duty of a Huntress-in-training that knew the struggle of these times.
It was Duty of Weiss Schnee, a heiress to SDC that swore to change the world. To make it better for everybody on Remnant.
And she would see it done no matter what.
The next morning was calm and quiet, sans distant sounds of thunder over the sea. Even the explosions far in the city ceased and even though it was a point of concern at first, the communication quickly ensured that the efforts of Atlassian soldiers were in full swing.
So much in fact, that the Grimm supposedly lost their numbers and thus the momentum of their ongoing assault was lost.
They said the Space Marine was planning a counterattack. Yet, no orders to rally came across to the defenders. A rumor, Weiss mused.
She walked out of the warehouse for the military staff together with Ruby, both of them chewing on a quickly made ration of previously packed bread with canned meat and a bottle of coffee, barely warm.
A breakfast fit for a busy person in a makeshift fortress of refugees. And while the able bodies had a priority for food of high nutritional value, in the end food was comparable for everybody - rationed carefully so that everybody could eat.
Suddenly, Ruby stopped in her tracks and only two steps later Weiss realized that as her mind was preoccupied with the possible reasons and outcomes of the situation inside the city. When she looked over her shoulder at her friend, she saw Ruby looking forward, frozen.
When she turned her head to look at whatever Ruby was seeing, she saw Blake equally frozen in spot.
Worry, uneasiness, fear, shame. All so clearly written all over her Faunus friend, as she looked at their young leader.
And when Ruby made her first steps towards her, slow and unsure, Blake spoke up.
"Ruby, I know I should've come to you, talk to you…" She said, her hands shaking in front of her.
Ruby's pace increased slightly.
"I-I didn't know Yang would come there, I swear!" Blake continued, her golden eyes darting left and right, sweeping through her own thoughts and memories.
Ruby dropped her bottle of coffee, the black and bitter drink poured lazily onto the gray ground of the docks as Ruby continued her march.
"I tried! I really tried, please believe-" Blake cried out with teary eyes, never able to finish her sentence.
Ruby launched herself to embrace her tortured friend.
And just as in the evening of the previous day, Blake cried loudly as her arms wrapped around her younger friend. They both cried into each other's arms, their shared warmth and tears conveying more than a million words.
Weiss approached them slowly, her healthy eye searing the image in her brain. She stopped by them and embraced them both in a supportive manner, listening to their whispered apologies and words of calming reassurance.
It was finally time for them to heal. As much as it was possible, at least.
The rest of the morning was calm and all able bodies were ordered to remain in docks. Apparently a ship from the nearby island of Patch was on the way to Vale, full of food and supplies so desperately needed.
Indeed, by early afternoon a cargo ship docked to Vale and the efforts to unload all items were ongoing rather smoothly with the help of volunteers from Patch.
Defenders also gained reinforcements in the form of Huntsmen - teachers from Signal Academy, where both Ruby and Yang used to attend before Beacon.
"RUBY!" A voice roared across the docks and the brunette turned around enthusiastically after she put down a crate of water.
"Dad!" She beamed and dashed towards a blonde man in late thirties, maybe early forties. He wore light armor of dark-brown leather and orange shorts reaching past his knees.
He was a slightly tanned man with light blonde and short albeit unkempt hair and unattended, unshaved jawline. He had bags under his eyes, a clear sign of exhaustion - how long did this man stay awake?
They hugged each other as if the world was about to end, caring little for whoever was around them. Nobody seemed to mind, though. It was obvious they missed one another and were happy to learn they were fine.
Especially Ruby's father. From afar Weiss was sure Ruby wiped his cheeks with a thumb.
And after their greeting was done, Ruby waved to Weiss and Blake to come closer.
"Dad, these are my friends, Blake and Weiss." Ruby introduced happily, proudly. "Girls, this is my dad, Taiyang Xiao Long!"
"Hello, sir." Blake said courtly and the man waved at her loosely.
"Please, call me Tai. Makes me feel younger." He chuckled.
Both Weiss and Blake smiled warmly in response, especially given Ruby's own overjoyed giggle at her dad's antics.
"Of course… Tai." Weiss replied a little awkwardly, unused to such levels of intimacy with older people, even if parents to her own friend.
"Now," Tai started, looking around the docks intently. Weiss already knew what the man was about to say and she swallowed heavily.
"Where is Yang?"
The girls looked at each other grimly.
Hello again, guys!
I am TERRIBLY sorry you had to wait this long - I admit I spend almost the entire month putting together the first scene with Blake. It was really difficult to make it believable.
Which also brings me to today's question: How did you like the RWBY-centered chapter? Do you consider the actions and dialogues believable according to characters and circumstances? I am REALLY sweating here because my anxious little self still thinks something is wrong...
Alas, I will do my utmost best to bring the next chapters a little sooner. And please, PLEASE - leave a comment, feedback, suggestions and critique! You guys are my driving force!
Peace!