Sun sat outside the clinic's observation room, looking through the window at his best friend and his girlfriend. He could say she was with Neptune because she really couldn't be any other place until the doctors released her, but lying to himself really wasn't his style. Part of him was happy for it. Neptune was going to need someone to be at his side. Someone who could be doing it as more than just a friend to prove his looks weren't all that mattered.8964 copyright protection659PENANAJS2tXEf0Br 維尼
Watching them he could almost accept what Yang was asking for. He wanted to accept it, and he had enjoyed parts of it. He didn't think that would last for long though. He was going to get jealous; Neptune was going to get jealous; and the two of them would only bring Yang down, not help her as she seemed to think they could.8964 copyright protection659PENANAEaBZ6DjyAA 維尼
And right now Neptune needed her more than he did. He was going to bow out, he just wasn't sure how. If he did as things stood now Neptune would be pissed and feel like some sort of charity case. Yang would feel like she'd pushed him away, and in fairness both were right to a degree. He thought about making up a reason to fight and leave in a fit of anger, but he couldn't think of one that either of them would believe. Heck, he couldn't even claim he found someone else. Yang would probably welcome that with the twisted way she thinks about relationships.8964 copyright protection659PENANAAAa7cVg7lL 維尼
Sun realized suddenly that her idea of a relationship could actually be more secure. He wanted to hold on to her so tight that no one would take her from him, but what if there was no 'take' just 'add?' It could work he realized. From what Yang had told him it did work for her parents.8964 copyright protection659PENANAZEMinE1k1f 維尼
"You're going to leave her, aren't you?" came Nora's unexpected voice.8964 copyright protection659PENANART854GDfUx 維尼
Sun was fully aware Nora had come to feel like some sort of relationship doctor, which was a bit annoying. It was fine when someone came to her and asked, but Sun hadn't. Instead she was butting her nose in. Still, he could use someone to talk to who wasn't Yang. "Do you blame me?"8964 copyright protection659PENANASAKhewI4Ts 維尼
She laughed gaily. "I would probably stay. I mean, yeah how she wants to live is more than a bit weird, and I'm not exactly sure I wouldn't end up killing whoever else she was dating, but who knows? We might even become friends, which is something you already have with Neptune in spades."8964 copyright protection659PENANApVAcD9vHGe 維尼
"And if you want to beat the crap out of your best friend because of it?"8964 copyright protection659PENANAMHWo3hsaXK 維尼
"I'd make it a damn good fight! If it was Neptune I'd make it a food fight, just cause splattering him in mustard would piss him off. Remember the one we had freshman year? Oh, the look on his face! A bit of fighting is a good thing you know." Why the hell was she so casual about that?8964 copyright protection659PENANADLbNHjeANC 維尼
"But I don't want to hate him. He's my friend!"8964 copyright protection659PENANAiK5izHmOB9 維尼
She laughed again, as if he had told a good joke. "I didn't say hate him. I said fight. Get out some aggression. Maybe make it a challenge. The winner gets to go out with Yang that night? Oh, now there's a fun thought! Yeah, I could get behind that."8964 copyright protection659PENANAqqCYR1jP9I 維尼
"I don't think Yang would agree," he said, remembering a conversation about winning and losing they had not that long ago.8964 copyright protection659PENANA7SdTqrjkFf 維尼
"It's called a compromise," Nora said reasonably. "She wants something you two aren't ready for. She should have to give in on something too, don't you think?"8964 copyright protection659PENANAOLM03eHBsq 維尼
"You realize your idea of a compromise is pretty blood thirsty."8964 copyright protection659PENANAEw8TrvaZno 維尼
"Well d'uh." Sun almost laughed despite his frustration. Nora and blood thirsty went hand in hand. 'D'uh' was an understatement. "Fighting is honest. You can't really hide much besides how you're going to hit your opponent next, and that is a pretty short lived deception."8964 copyright protection659PENANAHgQXWKPpdQ 維尼
Sun sighed deeply. "You may have a point. Right now it isn't going to be much of a fight though. I'm going to leave her."8964 copyright protection659PENANA6Urx8XPlDp 維尼
"Wimp. Honorable wimp, but still a wimp," Nora quipped. "At least tell me when Neptune is recovered you'll fight for what you love?"8964 copyright protection659PENANAa1OygbzpSX 維尼
He gave that question some real thought, and for once Nora stayed quiet long enough for him to work through it all. "I don't know. I can't rule it out though."8964 copyright protection659PENANATbAzHqwb8H 維尼
"I look forward to it," she said as if he hadn't left any wiggle room, then headed into the room.8964 copyright protection659PENANAAIJuGCJtsH 維尼
Yang looked down at Neptune trying to collect her thoughts. She had not failed him. She really could believe that now. They were out played and this is the consequence of the lives they live. That didn't mean she was off the hook though. He had been there for her; she was going to be there for him. It wasn't only because of what he had done for her though. She simply wanted to. This might not be love, at least not yet, but she did care for him deeply.8964 copyright protection659PENANAlIizZUThYV 維尼
She felt she had a good grasp on Neptune and what made him tick. That was a good thing because otherwise she'd have tried ripping his arms off years ago. That knowledge told her he was not going to come out of this unscathed emotionally as well as physically. He was going to need to find a source of confidence outside of his looks. A confidence born from who he actually is, which she didn't think he had ever done. It was ironic that he was going to think that this would ruin him, and she was fairly sure this was going to make him look better in her eyes.8964 copyright protection659PENANACUeVD5pCGZ 維尼
And then there was the balancing act of not neglecting Sun. She got the feeling he was close to being able to enjoy her lifestyle, but not so close that he could handle her attention on someone else for days at a time. Her dad always said that there were good times and bad times in his relationship with his two wives; times when jealousy was inevitable. He maintained the belief that jealousy wasn't a problem; it was a symptom of a problem. Usually that was insecurity in their relationship. She agreed with him and didn't want to feed into Sun's.8964 copyright protection659PENANAKLtbojSGpL 維尼
She looked down at Neptune's face again, half wrapped in bandages. She was told the scarring under those bandages was going to be significant. She wanted to see under them to know for herself. Not because she cared personally, but so she could judge how badly he was going to handle the change. If they had been subtle scars like the one she now bore across her eyes, he might be able to recover quickly.8964 copyright protection659PENANAUbXw55EZhz 維尼
Yeah, that wasn't going to happen. The state of his goggles alone told her that. The left side had been untouched. The right side was like scattered puzzle pieces, most of which were missing. The remainder had been thrown into a blender. Yang pictured that the left side of his face would look like undercooked ground beef that had gotten into a losing battle with a dull serrated knife.8964 copyright protection659PENANAJ4pMR7GHZm 維尼
Why hadn't she been honest with Sun from the moment they started dating? Either he'd have accepted it, or he wouldn't. If he hadn't then there wouldn't be a need to balance her time. If he'd stayed he might have another girlfriend by now to help with the balance. Now she didn't know and had to live with the regret.8964 copyright protection659PENANARCdZVsnIap 維尼
The door opened behind her. She expected it to be Sun and was a bit surprised when she heard Nora's voice instead. "How is he?"8964 copyright protection659PENANAofHMt6yDxB 維尼
"About the same. The longer he stays in the coma the worse his scars are going to be. I keep hoping that it'll be any minute now that I see those blue eyes of his."8964 copyright protection659PENANANc9pBtZABX 維尼
"Do you think it matters how bad the scars are going to be? They're going to be bad at this point no matter when he wakes up. We both know how he's going to take that. I bet you were obsessing over it right now in fact." Yang didn't answer, which was answer enough. "You're going to show him otherwise, I already know that. Everyone already knows that. Sun knows that too. You're going to lose him over it. Are you ready?"8964 copyright protection659PENANAO0eWj5BCwe 維尼
Nora had only told her everything she already knew, but hearing it from an outside source made it harder to deny. "I know I am, and I'm not sure how I'll handle it when he does. It won't be easy."8964 copyright protection659PENANAtRkmzaNGrT 維尼
"Glad to hear you'd given it some thought, not that I expected otherwise. What you probably haven't counted on is he might come back. I dropped a few things for him to think about on my way in, and I'm pretty confident it will work for you."8964 copyright protection659PENANAjYtOtQWvy3 維尼
Looking downwards she made a small grunt of amusement as she smiled. Leave it to Nora to add a silver lining to a storm cloud that had none. "Thanks."8964 copyright protection659PENANALEFGXcwFUd 維尼
"It's what I do, apparently. I should set up a love doctor booth. I'd make a fortune I think."8964 copyright protection659PENANAJ8sONl9fRm 維尼
Now Yang openly laughed. "You probably would, once people started taking you seriously."8964 copyright protection659PENANAUkhUwvUMzh 維尼
"That's a wonderful sound to wake up to." The IV tubes, bandages, and six levels of other medical equipment, wasn't what stopped Yang from squeezing the life out of Neptune in a giant hug. It was the simple knowledge that if she did she probably really would kill him in his current state.8964 copyright protection659PENANA0kng9G042z 維尼
"I'll get the docs," Nora said as she left almost running through Sun who was coming in at the same time.8964 copyright protection659PENANAIuikNJQT4s 維尼
Ruby and Weiss sat staring at each other, neither knowing exactly where to start. Ruby looked at Weiss and couldn't stop seeing the blood that had covered her, and felt the shame that went with it. Weiss looked at Ruby and saw the member of the white fang's head disappear like a popped grape. She knew she was going to die if Ruby hadn't killed him and she was thankful for that. She couldn't think of anything else Ruby could have done differently. That didn't change the new reality. Ruby was a killer, trained by the best Academy in Vale and arguably all of Remnant.8964 copyright protection659PENANAgl6G33knNI 維尼
Yet Ruby was an innocent, a bane to the soulless, and a champion of the light. Maybe Ruby's idealistic views of the world had affected her more than Weiss wanted to admit. She didn't want to believe that Ruby was capable of killing.8964 copyright protection659PENANA3PpUENEwCh 維尼
Weiss wanted to be cold and calculating about it. It would be easier than these feelings which were so messy and wrong. She remembered being told how feelings were never wrong, and the people who had told her that were idiots. It was wrong! Ruby had to choose between her blood and that of a killer. If she'd been in Ruby's position she would make the same choice without a second thought.8964 copyright protection659PENANAu8vrJEcVtK 維尼
"Do you think this is what it was like for Blake?" Ruby asked quietly into the silence.8964 copyright protection659PENANAieYLVGRrp6 維尼
Weiss remembered Blake after her battle with Adam. He'd made sure that the rest of RWBY was busy with his White Fang so he could fight Blake alone. She wouldn't talk about the battle much, but afterwards the normally quiet faunus might as well have been struck mute for a month. "Worse." The faunus blood on Ruby's hands had been a stranger's, not a previous lover. There was no comparison.8964 copyright protection659PENANAfjg3Br0oKX 維尼
The one word answer was obviously not enough for Ruby. She needed comforting from Weiss, and possibly forgiveness? Weiss wasn't sure on that last. Weiss didn't have any words to give though that properly expressed all of the conflicting emotions, so instead she reached out and pulled Ruby in close. She held her with all of her love showing, her masks falling off for her without any reservation. She cried tears of relief, of fear, of anger, and of love. She felt Ruby respond in kind. Then she did find the words. "You didn't let me fall."8964 copyright protection659PENANA5W4FLAWIE7 維尼
"Never."8964 copyright protection659PENANAY8bq5ZcVkX 維尼
Several hours later a knocking came from the door. "Ruby, we need your help if you're up to it," Jaune's voice came through. Weiss had almost fallen asleep. "We'll be in my room when you're ready."8964 copyright protection659PENANAWejlD9glgo 維尼
There was something in his voice that said this had some measure of urgency. Given everything that happened last night this warranted Ruby pulling herself together, wiping the last of the tears off her face, and answering. "Give me a couple minutes and I'll be right over." She leaned in one last time and kissed Weiss on the cheek. "I'll be back."8964 copyright protection659PENANAcRXy5HseQ7 維尼
It took Ruby a few minutes to clear up most of the traces of her tears, then she left with one last look over her shoulder.8964 copyright protection659PENANAK19f13VdbS 維尼
Less than a minute later another knock came at the door. "Weiss, it's Pyrrha. Can I come in?"8964 copyright protection659PENANAa3gezZUFU2 維尼
Weiss hadn't taken the time to clear up her tears thinking she'd be alone for a while. "One second," she said as she quickly used her sheets to blot most of them up. She knew it would still be clear she'd been crying.8964 copyright protection659PENANAEAIIuPeL0B 維尼
Weiss knew what was coming. More emotion delving was ahead that she would like to avoid. Not simply because it dealt with how she felt towards Nora and Ruby being together, but also because of the pain she'd caused Pyrrha. Not only had she not realized she had caused it at the time, but she never gave any thought about the possibility afterwards.8964 copyright protection659PENANADkA6zzaNWz 維尼
"Okay, I'm decent," she said through the door and watched as Pyrrha came in.8964 copyright protection659PENANAyLB9AvCqJ4 維尼
Pyrrha was wearing her school uniform instead of her traditional armor. Weiss guessed that it was a subtle message that they were at peace with each other. Nora's influence again she guessed (correctly). It worked and she watched Pyrrha settle into a chair across from her.8964 copyright protection659PENANAs21HuFmedV 維尼
Once settled Weiss started talking before her friend could. Any predestined speeches Pyrrha had prepared weren't what she wanted. This needed to be honest in a way only spontaneous conversations could be. "Why didn't you tell me sooner about you and Jaune?"8964 copyright protection659PENANAtKychMS9dJ 維尼
Pyrrha may be a master at shields, but her fighting style was mainly offensive. This was reflected in how she approached conversations that could be emotionally challenging. Weiss taking the initiative completely threw her off the planned attack. "Well, I guess it's because I wanted him to have what he wanted most."8964 copyright protection659PENANAVMtikpZFuu 維尼
"No, no, not that. I get that, even if it is a bit boneheaded. I want to know why you didn't tell me after. I feel like a heel not talking to you and clearing things up."8964 copyright protection659PENANAxmlkptpgYG 維尼
"What would you have said?" The shield mistress asked simply.8964 copyright protection659PENANASGnG2mLQpM 維尼
"Well sorry, obviously."8964 copyright protection659PENANAVv7I4s90Y2 維尼
"Is that all?" And just like that Pyrrha had the initiative back.8964 copyright protection659PENANAdypJT6cXyY 維尼
Weiss stopped and thought about it. "Well, yes. I'd want your forgiveness."8964 copyright protection659PENANALqQVJwgEjd 維尼
That bright honest smile crossed Pyrrha's face. "You already had it. Telling you wouldn't have done anything but cause you pain."8964 copyright protection659PENANAjHP2ZZ9T0H 維尼
"Wait a minute, you said you wanted to hurt me for what I did," Weiss pointed out in confusion. "That doesn't sound like forgiveness."8964 copyright protection659PENANAtD5g9xR1ro 維尼
"Does that mean you haven't forgiven Nora then?"8964 copyright protection659PENANAaSM2izjtFQ 維尼
That was a silly question if she'd ever heard one. "Of course not! I didn't know what I was doing to you. She knew exactly what she was doing to me."8964 copyright protection659PENANAttL1cHIV1M 維尼
"Did she?" her friend asked calmly and added "what was she doing to you?"8964 copyright protection659PENANAOtTLl54PTM 維尼
"She was taking Ruby and keeping her to herself!" She felt her anger building. What was wrong with Pyrrha? How could she not be angry at Nora?8964 copyright protection659PENANA4KF2Nq5Te1 維尼
Yet Pyrrha stayed calm and ignored the heat in Weiss's voice. "You believe if Nora hadn't been involved you and Ruby would have gotten together sooner?"8964 copyright protection659PENANA73eZgYoFxC 維尼
"Well..," Weiss started, confused. "Well maybe."8964 copyright protection659PENANAhYUZPFo3rJ 維尼
"Let me ask you something else then. When did you first realize you were attracted to Ruby?"8964 copyright protection659PENANAfDcAlyFdBG 維尼
Confused went out the window and was replaced by wild bewilderment. "Uh..."8964 copyright protection659PENANAyeUab0Tn9T 維尼
Pyrrha leaned back, her smile never leaving her face. "Think it over, I'll wait."8964 copyright protection659PENANAQSrl0RI6oK 維尼
Weiss realized Pyrrha wasn't going to let her off the hook, and was smart enough to know exactly where Pyrrha was going with this question. She sat thinking, but not about when she realized she first was attracted to Ruby. She knew the exact moment that happened. She was trying to find a way out of the trap she found herself in. It would force her to admit she had no one, especially Nora, to blame for not being with Ruby sooner. It was a wasted effort.8964 copyright protection659PENANAH0B8hCRR42 維尼
"During the food fight our freshman year," she finally admitted, defeated. She remembered looking up at Ruby after hitting a wall a bit too hard. Ruby was being over dramatic about it, of course, and Weiss couldn't help but find it charming. She didn't know it at the time, but that was when her perception of Ruby had changed.8964 copyright protection659PENANAigBhKuipWD 維尼
Pyrrha nodded, though she looked a bit surprised. "That's about a year sooner than I expected, and two years before the rest of us guessed you two would end up together. It is safe to say then that you had plenty of time to act before Nora became a factor."8964 copyright protection659PENANAizF2iwmtFK 維尼
And there was the point Weiss knew she was going to arrive at. "In battle they say fortune favors the bold. RWBY is proof of how true that statement is. When I realized I wished to be with Jaune I didn't act right away. By the time I was ready he had already set his sights on you. I lacked boldness to act. We were all young and uncertain then which leads to hesitation and we both did. Those were our mistakes though and no one else. I was angry with you. I was also angry with myself. Is it not the same with you and Nora?"8964 copyright protection659PENANAWnZhmcnKKC 維尼
It was, and Weiss knew it. She'd known it all along. The horrid truth was she really wasn't angry with Nora at all. She was mad at herself for all of it, but she was throwing all that anger at Nora. She had her opportunity, but because of her youth, and not understanding herself enough to recognize herself as bisexual, she looked away; concentrating on what was 'safe.' Neptune had been safe. He was cool, suave, and male. He might not be rich by her standards, but he could mingle with her crowds without sticking out. Father wouldn't fully approve, but better than bringing home a girl! She had been such a child back then.8964 copyright protection659PENANANITW696SFt 維尼
"Thank you Pyrrha."8964 copyright protection659PENANAoXdmM47i6t 維尼
"You are my friend and comrade. You would do no less in my situation. It is why I was able to move past my anger. I expect it will be the same for you and Nora eventually."8964 copyright protection659PENANAd3AlItZuiq 維尼
Eventually. Weiss wasn't sure how long before she truly could move past the anger, but she would, eventually. She could fully accept that now.8964 copyright protection659PENANAYl22HcsSqQ 維尼
Ruby entered JNPR's dorm room expecting to find Jaune, Pyrrha, Ren and Nora. Who she found instead was Jaune, Blake, and Coco. Including herself that was four leaders in various ways, and all four were hock deep in the conflict with the Reapers. "War council?" she asked.8964 copyright protection659PENANAMqU3v22ioo 維尼
Jaune nodded his head in agreement. "Blake's been in contact with all the heads of Phoenix that she can. Her Defense head is still missing. She's going to go meet each one individually rather than putting them all in one spot. One of us will shadow her and then be introduced to whichever head she's meeting. The idea is to introduce the two and start coordinating and training."8964 copyright protection659PENANA6LzmegIQX4 維尼
"You still think they're going to be able to help us with the Reapers, don't you?" Ruby asked, though really it was a statement.8964 copyright protection659PENANAmVvZI4G686 維尼
Blake answered the question anyways. "Maybe. We have to try at least. They're using White Fang members to help. People will notice eventually and it will be Torchwick all over again."8964 copyright protection659PENANAeILr2c47gi 維尼
Jaune added "The meetings are also going to be during the day. We think they're only going to attack at night. They revealed themselves to us but I think it was on accident. They don't want people to know what they are and are trying to avoid any hard evidence. All we got is a wild story that even the cops don't believe. They wrote last night off as a mugging of all things. Like common crooks could take on four huntresses."8964 copyright protection659PENANAdWL2TnqPj7 維尼
"The only proof we had that RWBY was attacked had been their wounds and that White Fang's body," Coco pointed out. "I'm having trouble understanding how a grimm and a faunus could work together, and I really do believe you. With only the faunus body it was easy to write it off like they had."8964 copyright protection659PENANA1FnzBlMrHv 維尼
A shiver ran up Ruby's spine at once again being reminded of the life she took. The image was still clear in her mind. The triumphant smile she had on her face. The joy felt at killing a soulless grimm, and the rage that followed when she realized she'd been tricked. "So who's first?" she said in a flat voice.8964 copyright protection659PENANArqcq220fTQ 維尼
"The easiest and most important is Alice," Blake said sounding resolute. "She's already well trained and her wing is the one most important in finding these Reapers."8964 copyright protection659PENANAa9Umd66GQC 維尼
"I want to be the one to meet her," Coco said instantly, a bit of humor was unmistakable in her voice.8964 copyright protection659PENANAmkhre0T8fz 維尼
Blake looked at her instantly. "How do you know her?" Now that may not be an important question right now, but it was something that Ruby would really like to know anyways. Blake had an even better reason to need that knowledge since it involved one of her heads.8964 copyright protection659PENANAUztJ6kSVhf 維尼
"She was a friend at Westbrook Academy," she said simply. "I bet she still says she's never been caught, isn't she?" Blake nodded her agreement. "Well that's mostly true, if you don't include the time she was caught stealing the answers to the midterm exams. She was expelled with no chance at getting admitted into Beacon. Still, she has skills. I'll vouch for her, if that is what you're worried about. She's a thief, but she is honorable too."8964 copyright protection659PENANADe9LmGVkWz 維尼
Well that was ballsy. Westbrook Academy was the Academy of the rich and famous, and had the security systems that went with that. Stealing anything there would be like trying to rob a bank in the middle of the day without being seen. "Given the age she had to have been it was no wonder that she'd been caught," Jaune whispered in awe.8964 copyright protection659PENANAuu3v91Hw2M 維尼
"Yeah," Coco agreed. "Going after them for four semesters in a row was pushing things. Sad part was she only did it for the fun. She knew everything already, and she didn't sell any of them. She just showed off the envelope to a few of her friends then burned it in front of us. She can be a real showoff, so it's no wonder we got along."8964 copyright protection659PENANAuNkGXvQ6ao 維尼
Jaune had a thoughtful look on his face. "If she went to Westbrook her family has money, so why is she thieving? She could be living the highlife."8964 copyright protection659PENANAiOlKW24jUT 維尼
"For the same reason I became a Huntress: the challenge." She smiled at Jaune. "Not all of us became huntresses because of a sense of honor like you did."8964 copyright protection659PENANAW6Unm3VOpw 維尼
A sheepish smile crossed Jaune's face. "Fair enough."8964 copyright protection659PENANAwbl7A2SIWA 維尼
Ruby made another connection. Faunus, generally speaking, weren't rich. Middle class was the most many of them could hope for. Alice was a rare item then to be well enough off to attend Westbrook. That narrowed down who her family was rather dramatically, and you didn't have a Schnee as a teammate without picking up at least the basics of the who's who in business. "Greychild isn't her real last name, is it?"8964 copyright protection659PENANAUy5BFcUJFK 維尼
"Is that what she is going by now?" Coco grinned. "Well, I guess it's appropriate. She is the black sheep of her family."8964 copyright protection659PENANAlBpD9iNVWN 維尼
Blake made the connection next. "She's a Whitmore?" Black sheep of a Whit-e family… This Alice definitely had an odd sense of humor.8964 copyright protection659PENANAoPhL5GeBuZ 維尼
"That is her family," Coco agreed. "They're good people. I was at their last family gathering and had a good time. Alice wasn't there of course. It wasn't that she doesn't love them, but when she chose her lifestyle she way her father wouldn't accept it. She's wrong though. Me and Johnathan had a long talk about his daughter. He's actually been keeping a close eye on her."8964 copyright protection659PENANAxKSFMA6OyE 維尼
The Whitmore's and the Schnee's were also business rivals, which was amusing to Ruby. SDC had the edge, but mainly because of the prejudice that was stacked against the Whitmore's. That spoke volumes for how canny Johnathan Whitmore was at business. She couldn't wait to tell Weiss!8964 copyright protection659PENANAnbBAYbHQPI 維尼
"So when do we…" Jaune started, but was interrupted by Blake's scroll.8964 copyright protection659PENANATOgzvO5nNq 維尼
"It's Thompson!" Blake said with a bit more excitement than Ruby would have expected. She answered it quickly. "Where have you..?" Blake's face suddenly drained of blood. "Where?" she asked, then paused for the answer. "We'll be there."8964 copyright protection659PENANAmQHrQXBUmJ 維尼
She looked around at everyone's expectant expressions. "The Reapers have Alice."663Please respect copyright.PENANAE6flBJa3s9
8964 copyright protection659PENANAWTKk2V6An6 維尼