RWBY: Blood Love
Chapter 4: Picky Eater
A herd of cattle grazed on a starry night in the country-side of Vale. This farm was a prime source for the meat market for the city, but little did the farmer know as he headed back into his house after filling up the cows water trough, they would be proving someone a meal before even getting to the slaughter house.
In the shadows of the nearby forest, a shadowy figure lurked from the tree tops eyeing the herd with glowing red eyes. Anyone would assume it was the eyes of Grimm that gazed upon the unsuspecting farm animals ravenously, but a sad whimper from the figure whom waited impatiently for the farmer to leave said otherwise.
"Come on! Get outta here already I'm starving!" Blake whined in her head as her body began sweating nervously, nearly making her slip off the branch she knelt on. Her stomach was rumbling as she felt knots in it, demanding food at once. She hadn't feasted on Ruby in a couple of weeks, having wanted her leader and confidant to recover some more blood before feasting again.
"Don't worry Blake. I can handle another pint loss and still train." Ruby had said to her the other day despite Blake's objections. But Blake had another reason to deny Ruby's generosity rather than health, despite the temptation her sweet blood gave the bat Faunus. She knew Weiss and Yang were starting to grow suspicious of their "nightly" activities. She really didn't want anyone else but Ruby knowing her secret. Yang especially, as she knew how explosive her temper would get, probably thinking she was just using her sister as a blood bag. Blake almost had a heart attack in fright after Yang once saw Ruby come back to the dorms with her with a hole in her neck she mistook as a hickey Blake gave her.
"Oh god that was embarrassing. But who would have guessed little red riding hood could tell lies so easily." Blake whispered to herself with a grin. Ruby had luckily managed to convince Yang a stray Lancer caught her off-guard to explain the hole, keeping their passionate session at the hotel a secret.
Blake's face flushed a bit as she remembered that night and the reason that preluded it.
Ruby told her she loved giving Blake her neck to feast as much as Blake admitted to feasting on it. Yet Ruby had insisted they have bonding time before drinking her to make the "mood" feel right. Blake was reluctant at first, but found herself helpless to resist Ruby's puppy dog eyes. It started at first with somewhat fun nights out in private with her complete with movies, ice cream shops, and arcades befitting the hyperactive girl. It wasn't bad for Blake per say, but she did always prefer peace and quit. But what surprised Blake the most was that Ruby was thoughtful enough of that to also choose activities for her as well such as nightly park walks, bookstore visits, and best of all steak diners. Such firm and juicy rare steaks were a nice substitute at times for blood to help stave off cravings. It was also partially why Blake chose to drink the blood of a cow tonight, getting a craving for the beast in particular as she remembered her steak dinner with Ruby.
"She gives me a nice feast, best to let her sleep soundly tonight back at the dorm. After all, she did give me this to try out, better start now." Blake said quietly as she saw the farmer finally head off into his house. She held Gambrol Shroud in one hand, yet it was no longer in katana form. It was now a thin straight black blade in the form of a needle, outfitted with a small compartment with attachable plastic bags.
"Aaaaaaaaaand it's done! Here Blakey, this should make your midnight snacks easier to get. I call it Drapnir!" Ruby giddily had said to her in that school workshop with a glow to her eyes. The weapons nerd had made her a syringe to allow her to quickly drain blood from those she stabbed. It was useless on Grimm, hence why she would keep it secret from Yang and Weiss, and instead planned to use it on animals and thugs in alley's rather than dirty her mouth touching their filfthy necks.
"Bleh! Who knows where they've been after all." Blake groaned as she fixed the needle sword Ruby gave her with a blushing smile.
"You really always have my back don't you." Blake whispered with a warm smile. She couldn't help but feel her heart feel warm yet skip a beat at the thought though. Her face flushed as she struggled to breath a bit, but she just chocked it up to hunger and guilt. After all, Ruby had been lying in bed for a few days in a row due to a mix of blood loss and exhaustion from sleepless nights finishing Drapnir.
"Don't worry Ruby, this will make things easier for you…and for me too. I love our um…"Room service meals" together and all, but I'd rather not do that sort of thing frequently." Blake thought. It was really embarrassing for her to think about it too much. She shook her herd to focus on the herd, deciding to make her move as she crawled down the tree silently, making use of the dark forests background to cloak her as she slowly headed for the farm, mindful for dogs, she really hated dogs.
A quick glance around to make sure she was alone.
"No patrols or hounds, good!" Blake thought as she took in a deep breath. Her skin soon began to darken into pure black before a slight glow of dark purple aura encased her, blending her into the shadows of the area. Her brief glow wasn't very luminescent so she didn't draw any attention from the cows or the farmer's house to her relief. Blake's semblance, shadow stealth, required not only darkness like the night to cloak her, she had to remain focused mentally, something her bloodlust made harder these days. She was lucky she drank a wild wolf a few days before initiation to slate her hunger then or else she'd never be able to use her semblance to attack Grimm in the forest of death's shadows that day and pass. She would never have been able to attend Beacon and forge a bond with her new team, her new friends.
"I better finish this quickly and get back to Ruby and the others before suspicions arise." Blake thought to herself as she crawled over the fence, her thick leather gloves and boots protecting her skin from cuts fortunately. She slowly crept up to one cow near the edge of the fence on the eastside. Licking her lips, Blake's eyes amber eyes once more turned red as she pounced. As quick as the cow screamed in fright at the sudden weight added to its back, Blake jammed the needle near its neck, careful to avoid any arteries as she wanted a quick meal, not to kill this animal. As the cow began thrashing a bit, Blake dug her nails into its right shoulder blade. She saw the bag about half full when the animals bellowing drew her attention to the farmhouse lighting up, followed by a shotgun blast into the air that made her skin rile up with goosebumps.
"Hey! Whose out there!?" The farmer shouted from his porch, cocking his shotgun in preparation for a fight. He naturally assumed wolves, Grimm, or bandits attacking his cattle, but the farmers eyes widened in shock at what he saw next. Blake had quickly detached the needle as her blood bag was near full and activated her semblances other feature. She quickly melted into a mass of shadows that flowed like a stream of water out of the fence. To the farmer it was like he was seeing a creep Grimm crawling on the ground. He instantly fired off his shotgun in the shadows direction. Luckily, though not at Ruby's speed, Blake was faster and too nimble for him to hit as she effortlessly evaded the buckshot and disappeared into the forest, having acquired her hard-earned meal.
Back at Beacon…
Blake huffed as her aura shined, returning her skin back to its natural pale coloring. She stood on the outskirts of the forest, nearby the academy glistening with lights. Blake had used half her aura to traverse back here quickly, but as she eyed the blood bag in her hand intensely, her eyes glowing red still, she licked her lips and thought it was well worth it. She sat down on a hill, stealing one more glance to ensure no Grimm or students were nearby. Once sure she was alone again, Blake's fangs protruded slightly from her mouth, opening it slightly as she sunk her fangs into the bags, splattering a bit of blood on her cheek from the spurt.
"Finally! It's been too long." Blake thought. Well…5 days really. As she began gulping down her meal, Blake couldn't help feel a bit of grimace. Her cravings were once something she could go weeks to months to ignoring. Now she could barely handle days. It was a very nerve wrecking development to say the least. Usually when she drank blood in private it soothed her heart, but as she remembered her friends smiling faces she couldn't help but grow even more nervous. Drinking that red bag before her didn't bring her joy, it brought shame. She felt more and more like a freak, a monster. Ruby had shown her there were people who'd accept her like she did, but Blake still felt so unnatural. She fed on people, liked girls over boys now, and couldn't even eat in public her favorite food unlike "normal" girls. Blake's ear descended as did the bag from her fangs, despite it having a quarter of blood left as she suddenly lost her appetite at the thought, her eyes returning to amber.
"Nothing about me is normal. Why did I think I could cut it here?" Blake whispered solemnly as she eyed the school. This place was meant to be her second chance in life, yet now Blake couldn't help but think she didn't really deserve it as she soon glanced at her white fang tattoo on her thigh. Her time in the White Fang made her feel she sullied her soul. She didn't kill unless it was to protect herself and others, but she killed regardless. Worse, she feasted on the blood of those she did in private, only Adam knowing and keeping guard over her as she did so. She couldn't help but scoff at that "generosity" he once used in their arguments over morality. Looking back on it now, Adam was likely taking advantage over her admiration of his passion and rage towards injustice to use her as a tool for violence. She was disgusted with herself for ever indulging in his delusions of superiority when he would use her own biology to argue in his favor for more violence against humans, as if she owed him truly for being in a relationship alone. That's why she chose to leave, why she dumped his ass and ditched him on a train to run away from all the violence. He wasn't her true love; he just took advantage of her lust for equality for his own lust for violence and sex.
"Take me." Blake shuddered as she remembered Ruby's words their first night together. It was definitely the aphrodisiac in her fangs that drove her. Blake always feared deep down Ruby might have been like Adam in all honesty. She had many of his qualities she once admired, his passion, his drive for justice (so she thought), and her hope for a better future. She even kept her secret for her even from Yang, her own sister. Then again, Ruby had been very handsy with her lately, she couldn't help but wonder if Ruby was only helping her because she was just a wild teenager caught up in the sex she just discovered for the first time.
Blake threw her blood bag into a nearby bush in disgust at the thought, as well as another reason.
"It's too salty. Ruby's was better by a long shot." Blake said with a blush to her face. Whereas drinking a cows blood was like eating a salty burger, she always felt Ruby's blood was like a sweet strawberry milk drink. She shouldn't be surprised considering the cookies and strawberries Ruby usually gorged herself on. Blake soon chuckled as she saw an image of Ruby offering her ice cream in town flash before her mind.
"We're friends Blake. I'll share anything with you, even secrets if I had any." Ruby had said with a carefree smile as she held the spoon of ice cream to Blake that day, which she remembered taking. Blake smiled before sighing in exhaustion. She laid back on the grass of the hill lost in thought.
"No secrets huh? Wish I could say the same." Blake said softly. She couldn't help but begin to admonish herself. Here she was doubting Ruby when the girl had done nothing but offer her aide to the vampire bat girl in her own secrets. She had no moral high ground or right to suspect this girl after willingly risking her own bonds with Yang and Weiss to preserve one with Blake. It was hard to hope these days, especially after the loss of her parents and respect for Adam, but she couldn't help but feel a warmth in her chest, a desire to give this girl the chance she was so afraid to give to anyone. A chance to know Blake more. She took out her scroll and checked to see the time. To her relief it was only 9:30 PM. It was a little late, but not too much so that it would draw attention from teachers or her team, she could simply excuse it as a nightly walk and dinner out, which wasn't completely false.
"Okay then, been away long enough. Lets go check on her before bed." Blake said quietly as she got up and ran down the hill towards Beacon.
As Blake arrived at her dorm room, she heard Ruby give off an insanely loud screech filled with excitement, making the bat girl cover her human ears in pain, but still couldn't help but smile eerily at the girls enthusiasm.
"Guess she's all better now. Good, maybe I can get dinner again in a couple of days." Blake whispered as she turned the handle of the door and opened it, eager to see her leader and confidants own smile. Blake's however, descended in fright as she saw a pair of fuzzy ears on a short body complete with paws with sharp nails, tail, and black snout she could hear sniffling for scents. It was all things she dreaded her entire childhood as it made her blood freeze in fright, despite it coming from such a small creature panting in Ruby's arms.
"DOG!" Blake yelped as she jumped onto Ruby's bed in fear, gripping the edges to her teams surprise.
"YUP IT'S ZWEI!" Ruby yelled cheerfully, ignoring the mood of the room. Yang did as well as she was too caught up in her pet corgi's cuteness and petting it to notice her partner's distress. Only Weiss did for a moment, about to open her mouth to ask what's wrong before her licks were licked by the dog to her disgust.
"EW! NO MANNERS! Your dad sent this disgusting mangy mutt in the mail!?" Weiss hollered.
"Oh he does that kind of thing all the time, doesn't he boy?" Yang waved her off before petting Zwei's ears, making him whine in joy a bit. Weiss glared at the little dog in her partners arms with disdain, until it tilted its head at her and showed her his cute eyes, making her heart melt.
"You mean…this little…filthy mutt IS GOING TO STAY WITH US FOEVOR OH YES HE IS!" Weiss yelled in joy as she talked like a baby to the dog and took him from Ruby, scratching his belly to his joy. After that, Ruby began to feel a bit tired. She wasn't actually fully recovered, but a good nights rest should restore her energy that she expelled at Zwei's entrance and finishing Blake's weapon this week. Her eyes widened as she thought about her confidant, realizing she hadn't had a turn to greet Zwei yet.
"Hey Blake you gotta….Blake?" Ruby said cheerfully before her smile descended with worry at the sight of her friend crouching on her bed, giving a bitter glare towards the dog.
"What's wrong?" Ruby asked her, drawing a concerned look from Yang and Weiss too as they noticed Ruby's sad tone.
"Keep that THING away from me and my things!" Blake yelled with a bitter tone making Ruby wince to Yang's anger.
"What the hell is wrong with you it's just a dog no need to yell at my sis?" Yang asked angrily and Weiss nodded.
"Yeah, he's cute. He couldn't hurt you-" Weiss countered, but she was cut off by a yell from Blake as her eyes widened at the suggestion.
"Tell that to me after you see THIS!" Blake yelled as she pulled down a stocking on her right leg, revealing a big scar near her upper thigh to her teams shock. It was a big circle with teeth indents, clearly done by an animal or Grimm.
"Blake…what happened to you?" Ruby asked fearfully. Blake gritted her teeth in anger at the thought of having to remember, but she couldn't resist. She had to draw a line and keep that beast on the other end at all costs.
"You know how I'm pro faunus right?" Blake asked darkly and the others nodded.
"Well, when I was little, those bastard cops paid off by the family of princess over there sicked dogs on us at a rally, even though we were unarmed and just demanding peace!" Blake yelled. Weiss hung her head, handing Zwei back to Yang and clasping her chest at the reveal. She never truly supported how Faunus were treated, even if she didn't trust them after what the White Fang did to her family. She wanted to be a huntress to protect people, to show them she could be trusted with there lives and be trusted with her fathers company someday and change things for the better, so no child would grow up in fear of faunus like she did. Yet here her friend stood above her, flaunting a wound her own family caused that made her heart sink, making her feel now it was all a hopeless dream.
"Do you have any idea what it feels like, having an animal chase you like that at so young an age? To be ripped apart and watch you're friends run away from you to save their own skins?" Blake asked them bitterly, rubbing her scar as it began to burn. She cried as the look of those German Shepard's snarling snouts and jagged fangs snapping at her was burned into her mind. Yang and Weiss were stunned silent. They had faced Grimm in the forests, hearing the beowolfs run after them did make their hearts beat wildly at times. But they had no idea was it felt like to be so helpless at Blake's age, being almost turned into a meal, having your friends betray and abandon you. They had no idea what to say right now that could alleviate her.
Zwei whimpered as he sensed his master Yang's sadness, squirming a bit in her arms to be let free which she complied, focusing too much on Blake's tearful scowl to pay attention. As the dog slowly began walking towards the bunk, smelling Ruby's scent and putting his paws on Weiss's bed frame, his ears descended and he whimpered at Blake's roar.
"He is not staying here! Send him back now!" Blake hollered, making Zwei retreat to a corner in the room, even wetting the carpet a bit to Weiss's disgust.
"He won't hurt you Blake. He's just a puppy, he's not like those hounds." Ruby calmly tried to counter, but Blake jumped off the bed and gripped Ruby's collar in anger to her shock.
"Either he goes or I do!" Blake retorted in anger. Seeing her sister assaulted was the last straw for Yang, who bolted in between the two girls and shoved Blake aside.
"THEN GO! I don't care if you hate dogs. We don't want you around if you act like this!" Yang hollered. Ruby's eyes widened in shock hearing Yang say something so callous. She knew nothing good would come from such a demand.
"Blake wait!"
True to her fears, Blake instantly made for the door ignoring Ruby's desperate cry and slammed it shut behind her with a "FINE!"
The room was silent for what felt like hours in that brief minute. Even Zwei didn't make a noise as he squirmed in the corner, too afraid to whimper.
Soon, the silence was finally broken by an annoyed grunt from Ruby as she glared daggers at Yang before running out the door as well.
"BLAKE COME BACK!" Ruby voiced echoed as she bolted down the halls outside.
Yang recoiled as she finally realized what she just did.
"DAMNIT IT!" Yang fearfully cried as she clasped her head, about to join her sister in her Blake hunt before a hand gripped her wrist, pausing her.
"Not the right time Yang." Weiss said firmly as she shook her head in disproval.
"But I can't just leave things like this! We need to bring her back!" Yang yelled in fright. She hated that look Ruby gave her, even more than Blake walking out on them. She just had to fix this mess her temper made, she couldn't stand the thought of losing both of them.
"I get your upset and you want to fix things, but right now your presence would just anger the two of them. Please just stay here and help Zwei calm down while you do the same. I'll go out there and look for them and help cool them down so they'll hear you say sorry in person gladly. Okay?" Weiss asked, but her stern tone showed no room for negotiation. Yang sighed in defeat as she nodded, tears in her eyes as she went to go pet her corgi soothingly, both hiccupping a bit from the stress. Weiss gave her friend a solemn look before slowly leaving the room as well.
Ruby, however, was running wildly as she used her semblance to zoom past the halls at break-neck speed.
"Where is she!? She's gotta be here somewhere!?" Ruby thought frantically.
But to her disappointment Blake was no where in sight, only meeting empty hallway each glance. It was 10 at Saturday night, she tried to ask for help at peoples doors, but most were sound asleep or out partying at this time so she had no luck. Ruby soon felt her heart race as soon fell to her knees, clenching her neck as it burned slightly. She actually found it weirdly soothing, like it was a constant reminder of her pact with Blake. She vowed to be her secret keeper, someone she could be trusted with everything.
"Blake…where are you. *Huff* I just want…*Huff* to help!" Ruby gasped, finding it hard to breath as her aura shattered from stress. As painful as that felt, the silence she received in return stabbed her heart more.
"Please! I'm sorry!" Ruby yelled.
Little did she know, Blake was actually above her, hiding in the air vents. Her eyes were reddened from crying, but they still widened in shock as the sight of Ruby's collapse. She wanted to be alone, yet she couldn't resist pushing the vent open and jumping down to the ground beside her, placing her hands on Ruby's shoulders.
"I'M HERE! PLEASE BREATH!" Blake yelled back, trying to get Ruby to match her breathing. After a few moments of breathing exercises. As Ruby's body melted into Blake's waist, Blake took a deep breath as she eyed her friend with regret.
"I'm sorry." Ruby whispered but Blake shook her head.
"No, I shouldn't have run off like that, it was immature." Blake denied.
"I should have shut up Yang and Weiss. I was your confidant, but you didn't get any help from me. I'm sorry, I really didn't deserve to know about those bad doggies, about anything about your past when I couldn't stop my own family or dog from hurting you." Ruby lamented, but Blake gripped her shoulders tightly to her shock.
"Stop it Ruby. I'm saying it's my fault and that's final. I don't want that dog around me, but I shouldn't have blown up at you guys over that. I was just…just…" Blake yelled before she nervously stuttered, feeling dread remembering that encounter and another.
"Hey, I get that at least. I activated my semblance when I was 6, being chased by an Ursa. I was dumb and went off to play on my own, thinking it'd be fun. I do get how it feels a little though, being chased by a monster that wants to hurt you." Ruby said softly as she rubbed Blake's scarred thigh to her shock as she gasped a bit. As the faunus went to grab Ruby's hand to stop her, she winced as Ruby grabbed it firmly before placing it on her neck, where the two hole scars she had were burning. She had Blake's soft hand rub them, making them both blush.
"I have scars too, I have fears too Blake. Ones you made, but ones I don't regret. I am scared too, scared to lose you. I already had one woman I love in my life leave me, I don't know if I could lose another if you left." Ruby said sadly.
"W-Wait? Another?" Blake hesitantly asked in response and Ruby nodded.
"I lost my mother. She was my everything, my inspiration, my source of happiness. Yang tried her best to fill the void she left when she died, but it wasn't the same feeling. She was like my guardian angel, mom was like my hero, inspiring me with her bravery and kindness. Till I met you, I never thought I'd ever have someone like that again. I don't want to lose you, or Zwei, but if he really hurts you just being there, I can try to keep him away from Bea-" Ruby said sadly before Blake shook her.
"No! I…I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being selfish. I really do appreciate your feelings Ruby, but I can't do this. It's not natural." Blake sadly retorted.
"What isn't natural?" Ruby asked her curiously, though with hints of hurt to her tone that made Blake's soul shatter.
"This! Us! We're both girls. Your suppose to like boys, play with puppies and be happy like every other girl. I don't swing that way, I hate dogs for what they did to me, I can't even stomach looking at them, looking at myself whenever I even see you look at me with that kind of affection either." Blake groaned.
"I look at you that way because it feels right to me. You deserve it." Ruby sternly said but Blake shook her head in denial.
"You know what I am Ruby. I'm a faunus, I'm not like you in the slightest. I don't deserve to be with you like that dog or your sister. They deserve your love more than me I-" Blake sadly asserted before she felt something warm on her lips cut her off. Her eyes widened and her face reddened as she met Ruby's eyes. The girl broke her soft warm kiss to Blake with a firm gaze.
"I decide if someone deserves my love." Ruby sternly said. Blake couldn't find the strength to speak, she could barely breath in fact from the shock of the kiss. Ruby knew now was the time to speak while she could still have the adrenaline to overcome her own intense anxiety and embarrassment right now before collapsing again.
"I admit this sort of thing isn't exactly…normal. You're not exactly normal even for a faunus but…Why give a crap!?" Ruby asserted. Blake eyebrows rose as she heard that question, never once pondering such a thing.
"W-Why? But what about the others? How-" Blake stuttered but Ruby covered her mouth with her hand.
"It doesn't matter if they approve, just like it doesn't matter to me if you don't approve of Zwei. I won't just try to brush off your trauma, I promise. I know he scares you, just like losing you scares me." Ruby said calmly.
"Then…how will this even work out?" Blake asked sadly. Ruby took a moment to ponder her options before sighing.
"It won't be easy, but….would you be willing to give him a chance if I was around at least?" Ruby asked. Blake grew somber at the prospect, still feeling her scar burn at so much a mention of the dog. But as she looked at Ruby's sad face, Blake couldn't help but feel her sadness overwhelm to pain somewhat.
"I…I'm not sure I can handle him yet but-" Blake said nervously.
"I'll keep him away, have you see him gradually and work on building up confidence. Not all dogs are mean like those hounds, but I won't force that reality on you I promise. It's all at a safe pace for you, agreed?" Ruby asked her with a hopeful tone. Blake just sighed in defeat as she nodded in a agreement to Ruby's joy.
"Great. Now then, speaking of safe pace, how about us? Is this a safe pace for you?" Ruby asked slowly as she clasped Blake's cheek, slowly drawing her in. Blake felt her eyelids grow heavy as she met Ruby's silver eyes, they seemed so bright and alluring, just like Ruby's tone and motions. She just couldn't resist.
"If your fine with a freak whose a faunus and doesn't like dogs or boys?" Blake asked.
"If your fine with a weapons dork who loves animal girls and strawberries?" Ruby retorted warmly.
"Guess we're both abnormal huh?" Blake said softly as she closed her eyes in defeat.
"Normal is overrated." Ruby said nonchalant as she pressed her lips to Blake's, closing her own eyes as she melted into a warm embrace with her new lover.
But little did Ruby and Blake know, around the corner of the hallway, someone had overheard everything they said. Someone who wasn't asleep or out partying. Weiss gasped in shock with wide eyes as she saw what the two were doing, what she had learned tonight.
"They're gay? Blake's a Faunus…and Ruby knew!?" Weiss thought in shock.
She stole another glance, this time seeing tongue action between the two girls joined together.
"Two girls? One a faunus, and both my own teammates!?" Weiss thought frantically. She wasn't sure what unnerved her more, the fact her teammate was a Faunus or the fact Ruby her partner knew and hid it from her. Both thoughts infuriated Weiss, making her feel betrayed. As her heart began skipping a beat, she began to become lost in her confusion and pain. As quickly as she had appeared earlier trying to find the couple to help bring them back, she vanished, leaving the two blissfully unaware lovebirds in a fright as she struggled to think about what to do about this startling revelation.
Author Notes
Ladybug appears at last, but will it last long? Next ch we will get Blake steadily working on her dog trauma with her new girlfriends help, a look into Weiss's past and why she is so unnerved by both Faunus and lesbians. (Personally no problem with gays but will use the whole "unnatural" vibe others or even Blake had felt for drama sake). Yang I will assure you will make amends with Blake for her outburst and vice versa. Next time in CH 5: I am not a Freak!