Ruby wiped her tears away with her left hand keeping it tightly clenched in a fist, she could feel her other hand shake as she rested it on Crescent Rose unsure whether or not to use her weapon on the woman who stood in front of her, Raven Branwen. A moment of silence had descended amongst the group after Raven had told her tale and that's all it was to Ruby, a tale, she couldn't tell if Raven was being honest and that angered her, she couldn't tell the truth from the lies, she wasn't able to determine if the tears that built up in the woman's eyes were real or just crocodile tears for her and everyone else's benefit.
"You just left her? My mother, Yang's mother, on a decrepit bridge in a forest."
Ruby spoke through gritted teeth, keeping her whole body clenched in an effort to contain her emotions, she kept her eyes locked on Raven unwilling to let the woman out of her sight but also fearful that if she looked at Weiss or Yang, hell even Blake or Qrow would probably cause her to collapse into a rubble of emotions so she opted instead to focus. Focus on Raven, focus on the story she's spun and to try, to pull at the frayed edges until it unravelled and she could feel justified in taking her anger out on her.
Raven's eyes narrowed at the insinuation and that irritated Ruby, how dare she feel insulted at the question, or was she just trying to think of an excuse, Raven looked behind Ruby presumably to her sister before looking back to answer the question.
"There was a growing horde of Grimm marching towards us and you think I just left her there by choice?" Raven answered.
"You did leave her." Ruby spat back, taking a step forward as she did. "How, of all the people in the world did she trust you? All you do is runaway and lie."
Raven took a step forward and rested her hand on Omen, her expression tightening at Ruby's words.
"I'd be careful Little Red; you may be my daughter's sister but I will only tolerate so much."
Ruby felt her fingers move on their own, she blinked through her anger and Crescent Rose was implanted in the ground in front of her, she held it at waist height as she pointed it at Raven who only raised an amused eyebrow which caused Ruby to tighten her grip on her beloved weapon.
"Don't call me that."
"Touched a soft spot have I?"
"Ruby?" Weiss' voice cut through, the tremor in her partner's voice and Ruby could only shake her head trying to dispel the torment she felt running through her.
"Do you even care?" Ruby's voice was stern but even she could see the impact they had on Raven as the Spring Maiden's face softened at the accusation.
"You have no idea how I feel."
Raven's response elicited a laugh from Ruby that evidently surprised Raven as the Rose wiped her eyes again with her left hand.
"How can I when all you do is run away?"
Raven pulled her weapon free from its scabbard, revealing a red blade.
"You're on thin ice Ruby."
"No!" Weiss shouted as she stepped up beside Ruby, resting her right hand supportively on Ruby's shoulder, Yang appeared on Ruby's right giving her sister a comforting smile as she spoke.
"It's you mother who is on thin ice."
Ruby could make out Blake standing next to Yang and felt overwhelmed by her teammates supports looking first to her left and smiling gratefully at Weiss before turning to Yang and Blake and offering her sister an understanding nod.
Raven's eyes sprouted flames and Ruby could feel the false bravado coming of her.
"Are you sure you really want to do this?" Raven's spoke as if trying to dare Ruby to act but it finally dawned on her, how adept Raven was at bluffing, when she was meaning to act or just threatening to.
"No, I don't. But that is the difference between you and us. We do what is right."
Ruby couldn't tell if Qrow and Winter were still behind them or if they were going to act with her but it didn't matter, she had her team beside her, from Mistral to Atlas, from a fairy tale to Vacuo, after such a tumultuous journey one Maiden seemed like nothing, even if it was Yang's mother.
"You think this is right?" Raven asked slightly perplexed. "Attacking a woman unprovoked."
Yang laughed as she responded. "To be fair, it isn't exactly unprovoked."
Ruby felt herself smile at her sister's words as she stared down Raven, the woman didn't seem impacted by Yang's jest however, holding her sword towards Ruby who merely tightened her hold on her own weapon, as if daring Raven to make to first move.
Raven's eyes moved between the four of them before she let out a heavy sigh, huffing under her breath as she lowered her weapon, the flames in her eyes dissipated, Ruby felt herself relax slightly but she didn't lower her guard taking note that Raven's own weapon remained in her hand.
"You know, not many people have had the courage to call me on my bullshit and actually mean it, well you and Yang, you clearly get that from Summer."
Ruby's eyes narrowed as she twisted the verbal dagger she held. "Well, I wouldn't know that because of you."
"What did you expect? A neat story all tied up in a bow, the real world isn't like that. Sometimes all you have is a messy story told by someone you have all the reason not to trust, it's up to you to decide on believing me. Just so you know, it is the truth, I respect Summer too much to lie."
It was Raven's use of present tense that Ruby noticed, respect not respected whether it was an intentional slip or not she couldn't tell and as a result she decided against her better judgement she'd offer Raven an olive branch, in despite of her actions, she was here in Vacuo after all. Ruby let Crescent Rose collapse back into its compact form. Suddenly as if all the tension fell away from her body she felt it drag her down, bending her knees she fell to the floor and gripped the dirt with her hands.
Ruby didn't hear but she felt Weiss embrace her as she appeared in front of her and Ruby brought her arms up and pulled Weiss close.
"I'm sorry…" Ruby whispered through the tears. "…I'm getting dirt on your clothes."
"You dolt…" Weiss laughed out. "…When will you learn, the clothes aren't important, you are."
Ruby felt a warm embrace wrap around her from her back and an abundance of blonde hair appeared over her other shoulder. Ruby couldn't help but just surrender to the loving embrace of her partner and sister, choosing between this and fighting her anger out on Raven seemed like a relatively easy choice, even if Raven deserved it, her team relied on her to make the right choices after all and this one felt like the right one but there was one thing missing.
Ruby coughed clearing the emotional lump in her throat. "Come on Blake get in here."
Ruby heard some footsteps and Yang's head moved backwards to make space, black hair tangled in yellow, quickly followed by a chin resting on her shoulder, Ruby rested her own against Blake's head.
Ever the one to ruin a moment Raven's voice cut through before Ruby could thank Blake for joining them.
"As touching as this is, can't you do this literally anywhere else?" Raven's voice dripped with sarcasm.
Ruby looked up at Raven with a glare and she was surprised by the reaction it had, Raven seemed to soften her hardened expression even looking away after a few seconds seemingly unable to stare back into those all too familiar silver eyes.
"I'm not here to forgive you." Ruby's words almost seemed remorseful, hoping that she could. "But I am grateful though that you're here now.
Raven responded with a thankful nod, Ruby turned her attention back to her team who had sat around her, she offered her hand to Weiss who immediately accepted it, standing up with her as Ruby brought herself up to her feet, Blake and Yang followed suit, Ruby outstretched her hand to her sister to which Yang responded with her own, Blake and her sister joined hands as the team formed a line, Ruby looked at her team before turning back to Raven.
Ruby spoke hopefully to Raven. "I know together we can beat Salem so thank you for being here."
Ruby couldn't tell Raven's reaction save for the way her eyes seemed to stare into her own until they moved over to Yang and then back to Ruby, an impressed smirk appeared as she stared into Ruby's silver eyes.
"You really believe that?"
Ruby felt both Weiss and Yang squeeze her hands supportively as Ruby smiled back at Raven her voice full of confidence.
"I do."
Raven looked behind Ruby, making eye contact with her brother.
Ruby turned with her team to make their leave but before taking a step Ruby turned her head looking back at Raven.
"Don't think we're finished…" Ruby's tone shifted playfully as she continued. "I'd love to hear about some team STRQ shenanigans from your point of view."
Raven rolled her eyes smiling while she did.
"I'll put some tea on but next time you'd do well to not threaten me."
"Pfft, you're a maiden after all."
Ruby and her team made their exit walking up to Qrow and Winter who had both watched on, Yang gently pulled her sister closer to her.
"So, Weiss?" Yang asked teasingly.
Ruby looked to Weiss with a smile then turned to Yang and nodded.
"Yea…So, Blake?" Ruby tried to fire back with a matching tone and Yang just shook her head.
"When did you know?"
Ruby thought for a moment before answering, her head moving to look at Weiss and then Blake .
"There came a point that I just realized how important she was to me… What about you?"
Yang rolled her eyes as she turned to Blake with a smile, turning back to Ruby she tried to play it cool.
"Ah, well you know how it is, you wake up one day after all the little things and realise you can't imagine your life without them."