Chapter 11

Day 3: Evening

Tundra

"Weiss, I'm...I'm asking you to kill me."

Weiss stared at Ruby for a few seconds, her eyes wide. Ruby could almost see Weiss replaying the words, desperately trying to find another meaning in them. Eventually her gaze slid down from Ruby's, coming to rest on their entwined fingers.

"Why?" The word was soft, barely even a whisper; Ruby could feel all of Weiss' hurt and pain behind it. She squeezed Weiss' hand, though she doubted that anything could make the older girl feel any better right now.

"Because…" she started, swallowing the lump in her throat, "Because this poison is hours away from starting to eat at my organs." she looked down sadly, "Because I don't want to be around when that happens." "Because this way, I get a choice. Pyrrha didn't get a choice. Penny didn't get a choice. For once, I can choose to go out on my own terms, not Tyrian's, not anyone else's. Mine."

Ruby paused, her throat feeling like it was closing up, "I hate myself for putting this burden on you." Weiss still hadn't moved, her unblinking gaze still fixed on their entwined fingers. "I'd do it myself, but…" she looked down at her free hand which was shaking, "I'm too weak to even carry Crescent Rose right now much less...wield it in an effective way to…" she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Weiss finally looked back up, and Ruby saw rage and sadness burning in her eyes. "So what do you propose I do, Ruby?" she asked, "I can't overdose you on the painkillers, there isn't enough left for that."

"I know…" Ruby said, "it was the first thing I thought of."

Weiss huffed angrily, "Well I really don't see any other way to-"

Ruby's eyes almost involuntarily moved to Weiss's waist where Myrtenaster was sheathed. Weiss followed Ruby's gaze, her eyes bulging in horror as she realized where her ailing partner was looking. Weiss shot up off the rock faster than Ruby thought was possible and began rapidly pacing in circles around the fire, her eyes darting back and forth.

"No." she said quickly, after a few moments, "Not like that."

"If there was any other way, I would never ask this of you." Ruby said, shaking her head.

Weiss stopped pacing and spun around, "So you just expect me to put my sword through you?" She yelled, "My best friend? The girl that I-" she choked, tears beginning to gather in her eyes. "I'm supposed to watch you die at my hand and then just head home like nothing happened?" Ruby fidgeted with her cloak, unable to meet Weiss' intense gaze.

"No." Weiss said, shaking her head, "I won't-...no, I can't do it." She wrapped her arms around herself and turned away from her partner, trying not to show how close she was to breaking down sobbing.

Ruby had expected it to be difficult to convince Weiss to end her life, but she hadn't expected an out-and-out refusal. "But…Why?" she asked pleadingly.

Weiss' hands curled into fists, shaking with emotion at her sides. "Why?" she echoed back, her voice quaking. She whirled on Ruby, her blue eyes completely wild, "BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!" she screamed, her face a confusing mask of rage and affection.

Ruby physically jerked backwards, both from the ferocity of Weiss' outburst and the fact that she had confessed her love.

"I've loved you since Beacon." Weiss continued, regaining some of her composure, "I had this whole extravagant date planned where I was going to confess to you, but-" she took an exasperated breath, "Because, of course, it's just our luck that this frozen hellscape is where I finally tell you." she sighed, her shoulder drooping, "The most romantic of locations…"

"Date?" Ruby asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I'll tell you later." Weiss replied, "After we sort out this nonsense."

Ruby was hurt by her dismissive words, "It's not nonsense Weiss," she said, frowning, "I'm serious. I don't want to die writhing in agony."

Weiss' eyes darted around as she desperately tried to think of a way to avoid what Ruby was suggesting. "Then why not let the poison r-run its course?" She suggested shakily, "We give you the rest of the painkiller and you'll be out-"

Ruby shook her head, "The pain is supposed to get really bad at the end. I don't think the painkillers will work at that point."

"Then I'll head back to Atlas by myself, get help and come back. I can move Much faster if I'm not pulling you."

Again, Ruby shook her head. "It'll take you at least a day and a half without sleep to get there. And I don't want to…pass without you here."

Weiss tilted her head, confused. "What are you saying Ruby?"

Ruby put her hand on Weiss' cheek, giving the white-haired girl a soft smile, "I'm saying that your face is the last thing I want to see in this world." Ruby blushed slightly, it was sappy but she meant every word. She saw tears begin to gather in Weiss' eyes.

"All those months ago," Ruby continued, "You told me that when you passed out from blood loss in the Haven Academy courtyard, you thought you were dying in my arms. And you were happy." Weiss nodded, leaning into Ruby's slightly shaky hand, the tears finally spilling down her cheeks.

"I want that." Ruby said, "I want to die in the arms of the girl I love…not in a cold and lonely tent or on a moving sled. I want you to be the last thing I think about."

Weiss sighed to herself, she understood what Ruby was saying all too well. Her mind shot back to when she had thought she was dying. Ruby's arms had been so warm and comforting; she remembered thinking that she didn't want to die, but if she had to go she was glad Ruby was there to hold her. She knew she couldn't deny her the same thing.

"Ok," she said, wiping her tears away, "I promise I'll be here for you no matter what happens." She took a deep breath, "Ok…I'll agree to d-do it on one condition…"

"Anything. Name it."

"Twenty-four hours." Weiss said simply, Ruby was taken aback, confused; "You give me twenty-four hours to get you back to Atlas, or get the attention of a rescue party." Weiss looked down, fighting tears again, "If nothing comes by this time tomorrow…I'll do it…"

Ruby shook her head, "Weiss I-"

"Ruby, I have to have hope!" she said, her voice shaking, "I can't imagine my life without you in it and I…" The tears began to flow down her face once again, "I have to try…"

Ruby took a shaky breath. She would be strong, for Weiss. She owed her at least that much for putting such a heavy burden on her shoulders. "Ok." She agreed, "twenty-four hours. We have enough painkiller left for two or three big doses tomorrow…we'll make it work."

"Thank you…" Weiss breathed, embracing her. Ruby could feel Weiss' tears dripping onto her shoulder, she pulled her partner close, suppressing a cough.

Ruby realized that Weiss knew just as well as she did that it was impossible to make it back to Atlas without a rescue; it would take several more days for them to walk back.

"I can't lose you…" Weiss tearfully whispered in her ear, "it would break me…"

"I know…" Ruby murmured softly, "I love you."

Weiss pulled away, so she could look Ruby in the eyes. "I love you too." she replied, a small grin on her face. "It feels good to finally say that."

Ruby smiled back at her partner, she loved finally hearing those words coming from Weiss. A thought occurred to her: "You loved me since Beacon?" she asked.

Weiss blushed slightly, looking away from her. "Well I'm not sure I'd call it love exactly…" she said, "But it is where my affection started."

"Oh?" Ruby said, enjoying watching her girlfriend squirm a bit, "And when exactly was that?" she asked with a sly smirk on her face.

"There were actually two times." Weiss said, giving her a playful glare, "The first was when we practiced with our semblances for the first time." she smiled fondly, "When you pulled me into your semblance…I felt your soul all around me and I…I felt you." she said, "The real you. And I felt how genuine you are. I felt your sweetness. I felt how much you cared about all of us, how much you cared about me." she paused, smiling to herself, "How could I not start to like you?"

"Awwwww…" Ruby said, "And what was the second time, princess?"

"If you must know," Weiss said with a playful huff, " it was actually during that ridiculous food fight we had with JNPR."

Ruby's eyebrows shot up, of all the times for Weiss to fall for her, that was the last one she had expected.

"It was when I bounced off the wall," Weiss continued, "You caught me and did that overly-dramatic 'Nooooooooo!', I had a sudden realization that I LIKED being held by you. I felt cared for…safe." She was blushing bright red. "What about you? When did you realize you liked me?"

Ruby thought for a moment, "I think it was when you brought me coffee for the first time. The time you promised to be the best partner ever. It was the first time that I'd seen you so close without a scowl or look of disgust on your face." She smiled, thinking back on the treasured memory, "You handed me the coffee, and all I could think about was how pretty you looked when you smiled…" both of the girls blushed bright red.

They continued to eat and talk, reminiscing on their all-too-brief time at Beacon. As they talked, Weiss noticed Ruby's breathing becoming more labored and sweat shone on her brow. Weiss reached out and felt her forehead.

"Dust, you're burning up." Weiss said worriedly.

"I…don't feel good." Ruby said weakly.

Weiss quickly bundled her into the tent and wrapped them both in the sleeping bag. Ruby began to get more feverish and began murmuring to herself under her breath to people that weren't there. Her small frame shook from the occasional cough and spasm of pain.

"I love you, Ruby." she murmured into her partner's ear, tears threatening to spill from her eyes again.

"Love you too." Ruby responded, the first coherent words she spoke in some time.

As they fitfully drifted off to sleep, Weiss cradled Ruby in her arms, holding her as if she would disappear if she dared to let go.

Lots of angst, but also a lot of sweetness in this chapter! We'll be checking back in with Yang and Blake next chapter! I might break that one into a two-parter depending on how long it gets. Thanks for reading, and of course thanks to V for editing this!

Also, If you're looking for some more Angst, I published a Nuts n Dolts tragedy fic set on the island at the end of vol 8. you can check it out on my profile!