What Defines Us - Ch. 19 (Patreon)

It was every little girl or boy’s dream to become a huntsmen.  Some of the first stories they would hear - while being tucked into bed at night or scolded at the dining table - were the feats and valor of those who fought and gave their lives for others.  Huntsmen were heroes - and what small child didn’t want to be a hero?

There was a reason why so many students applied to the huntsmen academies - and a reason why so many were turned away.

Nothing about what they did was easy.  Nothing was simple. Nothing was guaranteed.  Even with the level of training they had, it was hard to escape a hunt unscathed.

It was even harder to do so while watching over someone else.

The added responsibility increased the pressure and intensity, taking it to a point where any minor mistake could snowball into dire circumstances.  Thankfully, Yang and Blake were perfectly capable of completing the mission and keeping a close eye on Ruby the entire time. They’d been rather covert about it, actually.  Ruby may not have noticed, but one of them had been practically glued to her side throughout the entire ten-minute ordeal.

Not that Ruby needed their help.  The first few minutes she was hesitant, but the ground was still dry when her instincts clicked in and took over.  It was amazing to watch - like returning to Beacon and witnessing the beginning of something incredible. No one had realized at that time the type of huntress Ruby would become or the feats she would accomplish.  Everyone thought she was just another girl...

But Ruby was as deadly as ever.  She still possessed that unreal combination of speed, accuracy, and intuition that made her a terror on the battlefield.  She still wielded the capability to deal tremendous waves of damage in milliseconds. And her semblance still changed the tide of any fight in their favor.

It had taken only a few seconds for Ruby to find her bearings and take charge.  She fought without fear, without hesitation. Of course, she had nothing to fear - in her mind, she’d never been hurt by a Grimm before.

Regardless of the reasons behind her confidence, the entire hunt had felt like...like having the old Ruby back again.

With the four of them out there together, just like before, it felt like they were one unit again.  They each had a responsibility and they executed flawlessly. Even when the original plan broke down, there was a smoothness in moving to the secondary evacuation point - a seamlessness in setting up their quadrants around a defensible space - that couldn’t have existed if they hadn’t all been on the same page.

Blake had been right - Ruby’s instincts were still there.  In some way, whether conscious or not, she knew where the imminent danger was coming from and how to neutralize it quickly.  She could strategize on the fly. She was highly adaptable. And she was still highly skilled and dangerous with Crescent Rose - maybe even more so with the addition of Thorn.

If anything, Weiss had been the liability.  When she saw the Death Stalker racing towards Ruby...she hadn’t been able to hold her emotions in check.  The creature’s presence reached deep down into her very core and pulled at the threads of trauma still unhealed from the previous encounter.  She’d immediately broken from her training and done something they’d been taught to never, ever do - she panicked.

Summoning two soldiers was an overreaction, to put it mildly.  At Beacon, she used Ronnie so often that she’d built up the fortitude to maintain him for longer periods of time, but that muscle had atrophied tremendously while she’d been separated from her team.  These days, the effort to maintain his form drained her energy reserves after only a few seconds - calling two soldiers at once...she’d hardly been able to get out of bed this morning.

Honestly, she was surprised Yang hadn’t let her have it in the airship for making such a risky, unnecessary decision.  They hadn’t been in any imminent danger at that moment, but then Weiss had gone and drained all of her energy to eliminate one Grimm - one Grimm that Blake and Yang could have easily taken care of without her.

When she was completely weakened, they’d been forced to look after her until their ride arrived.  It made her a burden, not an asset. And, ultimately, it put Ruby in even more danger because they needed her to set up and maintain a perimeter.

The biggest question though - and one Weiss was hesitant to broach - was if she was the one who’d attracted the Beowolves.  She’d noticed the glances Blake and Yang shared when they’d gotten into the airship - she knew that her teammates were already thinking the same thing.

Grimm were drawn to sadness, despair, loneliness...and it would be a complete lie for Weiss to say that she wasn’t currently suffering from one or all of those things.  In wanting to keep Ruby safe, by insisting on going on the hunt, Weiss could have unwittingly put everyone’s lives in far greater danger than if she’d merely accepted her place and stayed home.

It was possible that there had been more Grimm in the area than the pilot had spotted.  It was possible that they’d rushed towards the sound of the airship. It was possible that they’d already been on the research facility’s grounds, or lurking in the lower levels of the building.

Equally likely was the possibility that Weiss had been the one who’d attracted them in the first place.

Regardless, as difficult as it might be, it was time to move on.  Huntsmen needed to have short-term memories when it came to their time in the forest - if they fulfilled the mission and returned home safe and unharmed, there was nothing more that could be asked for.  Like Blake had said, missions never went as planned. Dwelling on what went wrong would only create anxieties that would be carried forward to future excursions, potentially with negative consequences.

Knowing this, Weiss was determined to leave the hunt in the past, especially because today - even though she was currently feeling like she’d been hit by a delivery truck - she was hosting her teammates for a tour of her family’s company.

The trip had been meticulously planned over the past couple of days (when she hadn’t been mentally preparing herself for the hunt) and today she wanted to ensure Ruby had a great time.  Which was why, instead of driving herself over to her teammates’ house, she was being driven there by one of the company’s drivers.

“I’ll be right back,” she told the suited man after he opened the door for her to exit the vehicle.  He nodded his head in understanding before closing the door and standing patiently to the side awaiting her return.

Striding purposefully up the front walk, she wasn’t given the luxury of lingering when she could feel the man watching her every move.  This was one of the ever-present drawbacks to using her family’s resources - there was no telling what information was being noted and passed along to her father.  Thus, it was important to be on her best behavior for the time being.

Raising one hand, she knocked on the door and felt her heart thump loudly when heavy steps approached her.  A few seconds later, the door pulled open with Yang standing behind it - her pleased grin flattening slightly upon finding Weiss outside.

“Hey,” was all Yang said before stepping aside and motioning for Weiss to come in.  Accepting the silent invitation, Weiss stepped through the doorway and opened her mouth to ask if they were ready, but stopped when she heard lighter footsteps racing towards them.

“Yang!  You’re gonna make us -”  Ruby’s shout cut off mid-sentence as she careened to a stop in the living room and gave Weiss an adorable wave.  “Oh, hey Weiss! Hold on just a minute - I’m almost ready!”

With that, Ruby disappeared down the hallway again, this time leaving a cloud of petals in her wake.

“What’s going on?” Weiss asked curiously.

“They keep making fun of me for taking too long to find my shoes,” Yang explained while Blake walked into the living room.  “So I picked out what I wanted to wear last night and then hid theirs.”

“Not very well,” Blake teased, kissing Yang on the cheek.

“Of course you found your shoes.  You’re practically part bloodhound.”

“As a feline, I take offense to that,” Blake huffed playfully before smiling.  “Should I help Ruby find hers?”

The question only made Yang turn towards the hall.  “Ruby, we’re waiting for you!” she yelled, grinning at the muffled grumbles they heard in return.

“Where did you hide them?” Weiss asked.

“I’ll give you a hint - they’re not in the house.”

At one time, she would have been annoyed by Yang’s antics, but she’d learned a long time ago that playing along was much easier than trying to resist.  Regardless, she rolled her eyes for show before brushing past the two girls to find Ruby in her bedroom.

“Ruby?” Weiss called out, walking hesitantly into the still startlingly clean room.  At the sound of her name, Ruby’s head popped up on the other side of the bed, her brunette hair an adorable mess.  “Do you want some help?” Weiss offered.

“It’s ok - I’m close, I can feel it!”

Weiss couldn’t help but smile at Ruby’s big grin.  She was just so cute...

“Well, if you were going to hide a pair of Yang’s shoes, where would you put them?” Weiss asked as a way of giving a hint.

“Oh, I dunno...probably in the woods.  Or on the roof or something.”

While Ruby held onto that little grin, Weiss waited patiently for realization to set in.  And it did - Ruby’s mouth falling open before she sprinted out of the room and into the hall, leaving Weiss in a cloud of petals.

“Yang!” Ruby yelled in exasperation before Weiss heard the back door open.  Following the trail of petals outside, she walked out onto the grass and stood beside Ruby - the two of them staring up at a pair of boots sitting on the roof of the house.

“Sometimes my dumb, stupid sister…” Ruby grumbled under her breath before walking over to the side of the house and grabbing onto the windowsill.

“What are you doing?” Weiss asked, her concern growing when Ruby stepped up on the windowsill.

“Getting my boots back!” Ruby replied as she pulled herself up so her feet were on the upper ledge of the window.

“You’re not even wearing shoes!” Weiss gasped, striding over to the window and watching Ruby lift herself up to the roof using the rain gutter.

“Well yeah, cuz my shoes are -”

A loud screech of metal was followed by a squeal of surprise, which was then followed by a heavy weight planting itself right in Weiss’ arms as she instinctively attempted to catch her falling partner.  It was an unsuccessful attempt, but she did manage to break Ruby’s fall as the two of them crashed to the ground and a loud oof of air was knocked from her lungs.

The back of her head hurt now, where there would probably be bump later, but Ruby...

Ruby was laying on top of her, brunette hair strewn across her face while Ruby’s arms and legs were pressing against her everywhere.  While Ruby struggled to untangle herself, Weiss felt her cheeks steadily heating up. Eventually, Ruby pushed herself up onto her arms and stared down into Weiss’ eyes - both hands and knees straddling Weiss on the grass.

“Weiss!  I’m so sorry!  Are you ok?”

Trying to regain her breath, Weiss motioned that she needed a second before finally feeling her lungs re-inflate with air.

“I...yes, I am,” she replied breathlessly, glancing down when Ruby’s ring fell to dangle in front of her face, only to immediately avert her eyes when she saw that the collar of Ruby’s shirt was also dipping a bit low.

“Are you sure??  You hit the ground kinda hard!”

Risking a quick look back at Ruby, Weiss immediately turned away - her cheeks threatening to catch on fire any second now.  And, as luck would have it, when she turned away her eyes caught Blake and Yang walking outside to see what all the commotion was about.

“Hey what hap - woah there, don’t let us interrupt.”

“Yang!” Ruby shouted at her sister while carefully rolling to the side in order to stand up.  When she offered a hand down, Weiss willingly accepted it and allowed Ruby to pull her back to her feet.

“This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t put my boots on the roof!” Ruby huffed in annoyance, letting go of Weiss’ hand far too soon.

“I didn’t think you’d try to climb the house using the gutter!” Yang protested.  “Weiss’ glyphs could’ve easily brought those down.”

The comment made Ruby and Weiss share a look of surprise.

Of course.  Why hadn’t she thought of that?

Sighing in exasperation, she stepped around the house and easily flicked the boots down into her arms.  They were exactly the same as the ones Ruby had worn at Beacon, though that wasn’t a surprise. Ruby wore through the poor things time and time again, and always replaced them with the exact same brand and style.  Something about continuity of combat preparedness...

Running her fingers across the toe, Weiss savored the familiar feeling of broken-in leather before handing them over to Ruby with a smile.

“Thanks, Weiss!” Ruby said, returning the smile before sitting down on the porch step to pull them on.  “That was a whole lot easier than climbing the house…”

“How are we gonna put the gutter back up?” Yang asked, studying the piece of metal hanging free of the house before shrugging her shoulders.  “Nothing some tape won’t fix, right?”

Shaking her head, Blake rubbed Yang’s shoulder in consolation while Yang grinned - not one to be upset about a little extra work for long.

“Ok!” Ruby called out a couple seconds later, jumping to her feet and stomping her boots lightly to set them into place.  “Now I’m ready to go!”

“Finally,” Yang exaggerated while heading back into the house.  “Jeez, took you forever to find your shoes, Ruby.”

When Ruby reached over and punched Yang in the shoulder, she only laughed while disappearing inside with Blake in tow.

“If you’re ready, we can head out now,” Weiss said, waving after the pair.  After Ruby nodded in acceptance, Weiss walked towards the house and Ruby quickly fell into step with her.

“Are you sure you’re ok?” Ruby asked, turning to Weiss in concern.  When she turned in the narrow hallway, their shoulders gently touched - before the living room provided them ample room to walk apart.

“I’m alright.  Just had the wind knocked out of me,” Weiss replied with what she hoped was a reassuring smile.  Quickly rubbing the back of her head, which must have hit the ground at some point, she found that it was a bit sore but not swollen.

Thankfully, the answer seemed to cheer Ruby up.  With a grin, she dashed a few steps forward and held the front door for Weiss before racing out into the front yard behind her.

“Wow!” Ruby exclaimed when she saw the sleek, black limo and smartly-dressed driver waiting for them.  “Is that for us??”

Weiss wasn’t smug - she tried not to be a smug person - but she was awfully pleased by the delighted reaction.  Impressing Ruby was one of Weiss’ very favorite things to do - besides making her smile, laugh, or giggle in that adorable way she had.  Dipping into the family coffers seemed like a rather simple way to do this, but if it worked...why not?

Nodding her head, Weiss watched the driver politely open the door for them to enter.  It was unusual for her to request a driver in Vale because she knew the streets well and found it liberating to be in charge of her own transportation - however, her goal today was to wow Ruby, and that meant it was time for a little extra pomp and excessiveness.

“Pulling out all the stops, aren’t ya,” Yang quipped, ducking into the vehicle after Ruby practically dove through the open door.  Weiss didn’t have the chance to see if Yang was trying to be insulting or not before Blake gave her a smile and slipped in after Yang.  Entering the vehicle last with a parting nod to the man holding the door, Weiss took one of the open seats - conveniently located right next to Ruby.

“How far away are we?” Ruby asked when the vehicle’s engine started and they pulled away from the curb.

“Not far,” Weiss answered.  “Ten minutes, maybe a little more.”

Excited, Ruby turned sparkling silver eyes towards Weiss before leaning forward to see what was inside a small pocket hidden near the floor of the vehicle.  As Ruby did so, her arm slid down Weiss’ leg and sent a jolt of nerves down her spine.

Planning this day had been an exhaustive process where every possible detour had been taken into consideration.  However, somehow Weiss had failed to acknowledge the effects a change in scenery might have on her emotions - most importantly, how being in such a small, enclosed space would force her and Ruby to be in near constant contact.  They were sitting right next to each other and - as Ruby moved around to explore the limousine - she was bumping into Weiss almost constantly.

It wasn’t that Weiss minded the intrusion on her personal space - she’d actually come to expect and enjoy that closeness with Ruby - but the familiarity and nonchalance of the contact made it seem like today was just the four of them heading out on another one of their grand, Schnee-funded adventures.

Of course, that was no longer the case - a reality made all the more evident by the glances Yang kept throwing across the cabin as if she suspected Weiss was going to try something underhanded.  Lilac eyes flitted from Weiss to Ruby and back again, in an endless pattern that made no sense to Weiss. Why was Yang watching so closely? It wasn’t as if anything out of the ordinary was occurring.  They were merely sitting next to each other while Ruby explored.

Thankfully, Blake quickly captured Yang’s full attention by scooting closer and resting one hand calmly on Yang’s thigh.  The intense scrutiny instantly disappeared and was replaced by soft conversation between the two partners on the opposite side of the vehicle.  It was only then that Weiss was able to relax and watch as Ruby gleefully found the mini fridge hidden in the seat beside her.

“Oohh!!  Look! They even have chocolate milk in here!” she exclaimed, pulling out one of the small cartons that had been added specifically for her.

“You can have it,” Weiss encouraged Ruby with a nod.  Beaming with happiness, Ruby pulled out the miniature plastic straw and downed half of the carton while flipping open any other compartments she could find.

“Oh!  What’s this do?”

Holding up a remote control, Ruby spun it curiously in her hands before giving Weiss an inquisitive look.

“Why don’t you find out?” she suggested.  There was no hesitation as Ruby pressed the first button, only to gasp when the media screen that had been folded flat to the ceiling lowered and flickered to life.

“That’s - so - awesome!!”

Smiling, Weiss watched happily while Ruby continued pressing buttons - her silver eyes twinkling with excitement at every new feature she found.  The lights clicked on and off - the music turned on, got louder, fell silent - the skylight opened, letting a brief gust of fresh air into the cabin before closing - the windows untinted and then tinted again - the seat massagers and warmers turned on and off - the speakerphone turned on, called Yang’s scroll, then hung up.  With every press of a button, Ruby’s joy only seemed to grow - and Weiss’ heart swelled with delight in return.

If there was one tiny, microscopic silver lining to everything that had happened, it was this - watching Ruby revel in ‘new’ experiences that weren’t at all new, and sharing in those moments of pure joy a second time around.  Weiss wouldn’t have traded the first memory for anything in the world, but having two...there was something remarkably special about that.

It was only when she felt the vehicle slow to a complete stop that she allowed her eyes to leave Ruby’s ecstatic face.

“We’re here, Miss,” the driver called back to her before quickly exiting the car and racing around to open the door for them.  When they’d all emptied out into the sunlight - Ruby reluctantly leaving her new favorite remote control behind - the man gave Weiss a curt bow before returning to the vehicle to wait until they needed him again.

Turning away from the street, she found her companions staring at the extensive headquarters lying in front of them.

“Welcome to Schnee Dust,” she said, waving a hand towards the sprawling complex of buildings teeming with employees rushing this way and that, while large delivery trucks rattled constantly down the roadway on their left.

The corporate offices at this location had been combined with the factory floors to improve turnaround times, resulting in a skyscraper built in the center of multiple factories - everything connected by sky bridges and covered walkways.  Somehow, the architects and exterior designers had cleverly used reflective glass and abundant shrubbery to make the finished compound look more like a futuristic city than an amalgamated monstrosity.

“Holy...cow…”

Smiling at Ruby’s slack-jawed expression, Weiss hesitantly placed one hand on Ruby’s shoulder and directed them towards the towering front lobby, feeling more and more assured in her action when Ruby made no effort to move away.  The gigantic glass panels sent back their reflections as they strode through the sliding doors and into the atrium - which was nearly four stories tall with marble floors and an incessant echo of voices that had always bothered her.

The pace inside the building was frenetic, as executives rushed to and from the elevators for meetings, machine workers hurried back to the factories from break, and visitors were swept away by well-heeled and perfectly-timed tour guides.

Right now, they were separated from the main guest check-in by a series of security scanners - each of which was manned by weaponized Atlesian Knights, a stark reminder that this building was filled with highly dangerous and extraordinarily expensive materials.  The scans were exhaustive as they searched for traces of weapons and affiliation to anyone on a series of criminal lists and databases.

Obviously, Weiss wouldn’t need to pass through any such security measures - that would be rather preposterous for someone of her position.

Guiding Ruby towards the Knight standing on the far left, Weiss pulled out an identification card and held it in front of his face for the sensors to scan.  She then pressed her palm to the metal chest plate, which emitted a soft green glow a second later.

“Weiss Schnee, plus three guests,” she spoke clearly.  Registering her voice, the robot picked up the three people accompanying her, validated her credentials, and stood out of the way.  Stepping past the guard, who Ruby gave an extra long glance as they walked by, Weiss had already spotted one of her assistants waiting for them at the front desk.  The girl, whose name Weiss could never remember, rushed over and handed her three badges before disappearing without a single word.

This was why she was Weiss’ favorite - she didn’t have that compulsive need to speak all the time.  Maybe Weiss should try to remember her name...

Security badges in hand, she scanned the names and handed the first two to Yang and Blake before giving the last one to Ruby.

“Here are your security badges,” she explained.  “Don’t lose them. If security finds you without one, you’ll be immediately arrested.”

Eyes widening in shock, Ruby looked at her badge again before breaking into a smile and holding the piece of plastic up in Yang’s face.

“Weiss can spell my name right!”

Yang grinned while slipping her own badge around her neck.

“What Weiss didn’t say is that they have trackers in the badges so they know where everyone is at all times,” Yang whispered loudly to her sister.  Ruby’s eyes widened again as she turned to Weiss.

“Is that true??”

“No comment,” Weiss replied before turning away, a smile threatening when she heard Ruby’s gasp.

There were many valuable items which could be stolen or destroyed in the building.  It was important to track every employee’s whereabouts at all times in case an accident or theft occurred.  At least, that was the company’s take on the matter.

“Where to first?” Yang asked, her eyes scanning the corridors and people carefully.  Weiss looked around, as well, searching for the lab technician who should be here by now.  Her exact instructions had been not to be late, had they not?  Yet, here they were - waiting for him to arrive.

Several days ago, she’d added this tour to her schedule and sent firmly worded emails to the department managers so they’d know not to bother her unless absolutely necessary.  She’d then hand-selected a technician - and apparently she’d chosen incorrectly since he wasn’t able to arrive on time.

“I thought we’d start with a little demonstration,” she said, temporarily giving up her search.  Her eyes focused on Ruby, who had her head tilted all the way back as she looked at the lights in the ceiling far above.  “You had mentioned wanting to see black Dust.”

That phrase gained Ruby’s attention in a heartbeat, while Yang bobbed her head up and down in approval.

“Sounds like we’re gonna start this with a Yang,” she said with a big grin, while Blake solemnly shook her head at the joke.

“I knew you were going to say that…”

“Woah - Weiss, that lady looks just like you!” Ruby suddenly blurted out, pointing over Weiss’ shoulder before quickly dropping her hand when Yang gave her a stern look and head shake.

Curiously turning around, Weiss was shocked to see none other than Winter Schnee striding towards them, her head held high while employees scrambled out of her way.

“Winter?” both Weiss and Yang said in unison, sharing a surprised glance.

This had certainly not been part of today’s schedule.  In fact, nowhere on any schedule was there any mention of Winter being in the building today.  What was Winter doing here?

Of course, Weiss was happy to see her sister.  Happy, but a little...disgruntled.

“Excuse me,” she muttered, separating from her teammates to meet her sister several paces away.  They didn’t really hug in her family - not like Yang and Ruby - but she dipped her head politely in greeting.

“Winter...I’m surprised to see you here,” she said, trying to keep any semblance of exasperation out of her tone while Winter smiled down at her.  “You wouldn’t be checking in on me, would you?”

“Actually, I have a meeting to attend today.  I just got here this morning.”

The answer was smooth and polished, but Weiss didn’t believe it for a second.

“You never come to meetings in Vale.  You always send a proxy.”

“You’re right, but I thought it might be good for morale to show up personally every once in a while.”

“Good for morale?  Everyone here is terrified of you,” Weiss replied bluntly, earning a somewhat pleased smirk from Winter before she looked Weiss squarely in the eyes.

“So maybe I also wanted to check on you.  Is that so horrible?” Winter finally admitted before looking Weiss up and down and nodding in satisfaction.  “And you look...better. Maybe I should have had you shipped back to Vale months ago.”

Weiss couldn’t help but roll her eyes at her sister’s words.

“I’m sure that would have gone over swimmingly.”

“Ah - I see you’ve found your wit again,” Winter replied with a true smile before leaning forward to whisper, “I was told you authorized a little...experiment.”

“Just a small one,” Weiss explained as her companions crept closer to see what was going on.  In the interest of keeping up appearances, she politely turned around to re-introduce her teammates to Winter - even though Winter was already very familiar with each of them.

“Everyone, this is my sister, Winter.  Winter, this is Blake, Ruby, and I’m sure you remember Yang.”

Nodding her head to each of them in greeting, Winter tilted her head to Yang with a smile.

“Yang -”

Before Winter could finish whatever proper greeting she was about to utter, Yang strode over and wrapped her in a giant hug - lifting her right off her feet before setting her back on the ground.

“Winter!  How have you been?” Yang asked happily, not noticing in the slightest how caught off guard Winter was by the unexpected display of affection.  “I haven’t seen you in forever!”

Seeing Yang treat Winter so kindly sent a sharp pang of jealousy through Weiss’ mind, and a frown flitting across her lips.  However, unlike Weiss, Winter had never done anything harmful to Yang - if anything, she’d helped Yang immeasurably by acquiring some important upgrades for her arm.

“Busy, as always,” Winter replied, straightening her sleeves while attempting to recollect her composure.  “I see you haven’t lost an ounce of strength.”

While the two spoke, Weiss noticed that Ruby’s eyes were shifting rapidly back and forth between her and Winter.

“You’re Weiss’ sister?” Ruby finally asked, gaining everyone’s attention with that one small question.  “Wow. Your whole family could be models.”

The offhand compliment made Weiss’ cheeks burn, which Winter unfortunately noticed.  First sending Weiss a pleased grin, Winter then turned a sincere smile Ruby’s way.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ruby.  And that’s very kind of you to say.  I’m sure Weiss, in particular, appreciates the sentiment.”

Miffed by the response, Ruby turned to Weiss in confusion.  For her part, Weiss glared at her sister before given Ruby a smile and opening her mouth to attempt a response.

But what was she supposed to say to that?  She did appreciate the sentiment.  She loved the idea that Ruby could think of her as a model.  It might be nicer if Ruby hadn’t lumped Winter into that category as well, but Weiss wasn’t in the position to be picky at the moment.

“Um, thank you, Ruby,” she muttered while her blush continued to grow.  “I do appreciate that, but I think...that you...would be more apt for such an occupation...”

Her embarrassment was climbing to new heights - and was about to ascend even higher based on the pleased smirk on Yang’s lips - but, fortunately, Blake decided to save Weiss from the impending tease by speaking up.

“Hey Ruby, I think I saw a vending machine over there - and I’m pretty sure Weiss has a code that makes everything free.”

Forgetting what they’d just been talking about, Ruby gasped and turned to Weiss with stars in her eyes.

“Do you really??”

“It’s 1-0-3-1,” Weiss replied, smiling when Ruby practically squealed with delight.

“Ten thirty-one.  Got it,” Ruby repeated before suddenly stopping cold.  “Hey, that’s my birthday!”

The comment made Weiss freeze when four different sets of eyes locked onto her - three of them blatantly wondering how she was going to explain the rather coincidental set of numbers.

“Is it?” she asked, giving Ruby a smile that might have wavered in the middle.  “Well, that’s going to make it very easy to remember from now on.”

Completely unperturbed by the coincidence, Ruby broke into a big grin before dragging Blake away from them.

“Be right back!” she shouted with a wave.

Watching the two girls weave through the other patrons in the lobby, Weiss heaved a sigh of relief - grateful that Ruby was still so easily distracted.  The sound didn't go unnoticed by Winter, who turned away from Ruby with an encouraging expression.

“She looks good.”

“You should see her fight,” Yang bragged with a proud grin.

“She’s fighting again?” Winter asked, looking at Weiss in shock.  Catching the gaze, Weiss sighed again.

“Unfortunately, yes.  Fortunately, she’s very, very good.”

Clearly surprised by the revelation, Winter stared for a few moments before slowly shaking her head in respect.

“There’s no stopping that one...” she commented, adding another head shake before straightening her posture.  “Anyway, I only wanted to speak with you for a second, Weiss. Then I’ll be out of your way.”

Nodding, Weiss allowed her sister to lead her away from Yang so they could speak in private.  Once out of earshot, Winter turned towards Weiss and lowered a fraction of the ever-present guard set in front of her emotions.

“How are you doing?” she asked, her eyes gently adding that she was ready and willing to listen to whatever Weiss had to offer in response.

How many times had Winter asked that exact question?  And how many times had Weiss responded with nothing more than a short ‘I’m fine?’

“I’m...doing better, I think,” Weiss answered truthfully, noting the flash of surprise in her sister’s eyes at the unanticipated candor.

It felt uncomfortable and disarming to be honest, but maybe it was time she stopped keeping all of these feelings to herself.  Maybe it was time to open up to the people she trusted.

Furrowing her brow, she struggled to find a succinct way to describe her current thoughts.

“I always thought...that being around her would drive me crazy, but even if I was crazy...she would still accept me for that, I think.”

When Weiss felt a hopeful smile appear, Winter straightened and smiled right back.

“She’s not the only one, you know,” Winter replied before pulling Weiss into a brief, unexpected hug.  “I’m glad to see a little bit of my sister again. Even if that means you’re back to breaking rules for her affection.”

“I’m not technically breaking any rules,” Weiss immediately refuted, earning an amused expression from her sister in return.

“Just ‘stretching’ them, are you?”

Smiling at the poor excuse, Weiss nodded regardless.  It always warmed her heart how supportive Winter was of Weiss’ decisions - whether or not they fell in line with the black and white orders they’d been expressly given.

“I’m glad you came,” Weiss admitted. “It’s good to see you.”

“It’s always a pleasure to see you, my little sister,” Winter replied, reaching out and setting one hand on Weiss’ shoulder.  “Can we have dinner tonight before I head back to Atlas?”

“Of course.  That sounds great.”

“Excellent, then I’ll see you soon.  Now, I must be going to that meeting - I really do dislike this place though…”

Chuckling while Winter headed away - pausing for a moment to wave towards Yang, Blake, and Ruby - Weiss felt a warmth in her chest that brought a smile to her lips.  Winter was right - it felt like Weiss had found a piece of herself that had been missing for quite some time. And as Ruby raced over, her arms loaded with various candies, it really wasn’t difficult to imagine what that missing piece had been.

“Did you get everything you wanted?” Weiss asked amusedly, taking stock of the assortment Ruby had acquired.

“One of everything!  But that’s cuz I didn’t know what you’d want.”

“What I’d want?” Weiss asked in confusion.

“Yeah!  I wanted to bring you something!  What’s your favorite?” Ruby asked, her silver eyes looking down at the pile of goods in her arms before turning back to Weiss.  “I’m sorry I don’t know your favorite, but if you tell me I’ll remember!”

The apology couldn’t possibly refer to Ruby’s lack of memories, but to Weiss it felt that way - like Ruby was apologizing for having lost access to that information.  It was something that Ruby should never have to apologize for, because it hadn’t been her fault. If only Weiss could explain that...

“These ones,” she said instead, reaching over and carefully removing a small bag of corn chips.  Ruby’s eyes narrowed while she made note of the brand before she nodded happily.

“Miss Schnee -”

The source of her name was the man she’d been waiting for - the technician who’d been tasked with setting up the experiment she’d requested specifically for Ruby.

“I’m sorry I’m late.  There was an issue with the -”

Shaking her head, Weiss cut off the excuses before they became too technical for her liking.

“You’re here now.  Let’s get going,” she instructed calmly, waving for him to lead the way.  “You can leave anything you don’t want here,” she suggested to Ruby, pointing to a coffee table sitting in the lobby.  “We can always get it when we return.”

Picking out one candy bar, which Weiss happily noted was the same one Ruby had always loved, Ruby dumped the rest of the pile onto the table and gave a thumbs up when she was ready to go.  The unexpected deviations from the plan having ended for now, the four of them were finally able to follow the white-coated lab technician out of the lobby and through the hallways leading to the factory floors.

As they walked, Ruby fell into step beside Weiss while Yang and Blake brought up the rear.  It could be Weiss’ imagination, but it seemed like Ruby was sticking close to Weiss’ side today - so close that they were bumping into each other every so often.  Not that Weiss minded. Having Ruby nearby was actually quite comforting and reassuring - it was as if her presence lent Weiss strength she didn’t have access to on her own.  And, more than anything, it made her feel like Ruby wanted to be close to her.

“Here we are,” the man announced, swiping his badge across a keypad located beside a rather nondescript white door.  When it clicked open, he used both hands to shove the heavy metal inwards before holding it open for them to enter.

The room beyond was one of the viewing rooms in the research and development section of the facility.  It was the most dangerous area in the entire compound, which was why every wall and door was made of reinforced metal.  If there was going to be an explosion, it would be contained in this location. At least, that was the hope…

“I’ll go get the process started.”

Without another word, the technician disappeared into the hallway, allowing the heavy door to bang shut behind him.  The four of them were left in a small square room with one of the walls containing a large viewing window into a research pod beyond.  Behind the thick, tempered glass they could see several robots, which spurred to life a few seconds later when the technician began his duties.

“Dust grows more unstable the more you mix it,” Weiss explained while several flat trays were carefully stacked by a set of robotic arms above a stationary Dust mixer.  “The primary colors are the most stable, followed by the secondary colors and so forth. Mixing a primary color with a secondary color will give you even more volatile results, continuing on exponentially until you’re mixing all of them together.”

Her teammates watched in rapt attention while the machine hooked up to a set of colors in the wall - one tube designated for each color of Dust.  One by one, a microscopic sample of Dust was collected before the tubes retreated from view.

“Black Dust,” Blake said, staring intently into the room.

Weiss nodded at the term.

“Some people - criminals mostly - have tried to harness the power of Black Dust in the past, but it’s far too unstable to transport or use in any effective manner.  Even Schnee Dust has spent millions of Lien attempting to solve the mystery, with no results.”

The idea of her father harnessing the power of Black Dust made Weiss more than apprehensive.  What might he do with such power? To what aim would he use it?

Thankfully, the experiments never came close to producing workable results, and the entire program had been shuttered for the time being.

“In order to have a chance at success, you need to mix the primary colors first, then the secondary colors, then tertiary…and hope that it doesn’t overmix in the process.  Keep in mind that we’re using a miniscule amount of Dust here - so little that you could count the individual grains.”

The Dust mixer rumbled to life - its large bowl rotating endlessly while the robotic arms lined up the set of trays in a specific order.  One by one, each small tray was lifted and emptied into the bowl. It didn’t look like much, but Weiss could see brief flashes of colors as Dust slid from the trays and out of view.

Realizing what was about to happen, Yang took a step away from the window.

“Uh...how strong is this glass, Weiss?”

“Strong enough,” she replied confidently before muttering under her breath, “I hope…”  Blake shot Weiss a look of concern before stepping back with Yang.

While the Blake and Yang moved away from the inevitable explosion, Ruby stepped forward and pressed her nose right against the glass.

When they’d arrived at Beacon, Ruby was seen as quick and goofy.  As they’d progressed through the years, more attention was given to her remarkable skill and untouchable power.  However, even upon graduation, not many had had the opportunity to know Ruby for what she truly was - fearless.

Fearless or not, Weiss wasn’t comfortable with Ruby standing so close - so, without a second thought, she reached forward and grabbed Ruby’s hand to pull her back a few steps.  When Ruby looked down at their joined hands in surprise, Weiss let go as if she suddenly realized she was holding hot coals.

“It’s on tertiary colors,” she muttered in embarrassment, nodding towards the room to draw Ruby’s eyes away from her.

Without warning, the room suddenly disappeared from view, and Weiss jumped as a resounding BOOM shook the window in front of them - a window designed to withstand multiple explosions from military-grade weaponry.

When the rattling subsided, the room was filled with white smoke that obscured anything from view.  As it slowly dissipated, they could see through the glass once more...only to find that there was nothing left in the room - everything had been pulverized into the very fine dust that was now clouding the air.  The small particles had etched themselves into the window, leaving the glass a foggy, sandblasted texture.

The silence on their side of the glass was only broken when Yang let out a long, low whistle of appreciation.  At a loss for words, Ruby walked back to the window and pressed both hands to the glass.

“Wow,” she said succinctly before turning back to them with a grin.  “Got it - mixing Dust is bad!”

The lighthearted joke made Yang and Blake chuckle while Weiss smiled.

“So bad guys could potentially use that stuff??” Ruby asked, looking at Weiss for an answer.

“Unlikely.  It’s too dangerous, even for them.  Plus, even if they weren’t always at risk of blowing themselves up, the machinery involved would be prohibitively expensive.”

...like the million Lien robot she’d just willingly sacrificed so Ruby could see a cool science experiment.

“Glad I’m not in charge of cleaning up,” Yang said with a small laugh.  “I’d be here for the rest of my life.”

“We’re always hiring, you know.”

The words slipped out before Weiss paused to think about them - a subtle joke that she immediately wished she could have back.  Concerned about how it would be received, she shook her head and opened her mouth to apologize when she heard Ruby giggle. The infectious sound filled the room - making Blake break into a smile before Yang caved and joined in the laughter.

“At least I have options,” Yang said with another chuckle before reaching out and softly knocking a fist into her sister’s shoulder.

Surprised and immensely relieved with how that had turned out, Weiss managed a small smile of her own before the door beside them suddenly opened and drew their attention.

“Excuse me, Miss,” an unfamiliar man said while stepping inside.  “Your sister asked me to give you and your guests a tour of the DEB floor.”

Of course - the DEB floor would be the best place to go next.  Winter was a genius.

“Please lead the way,” Weiss instructed him before walking out into the hallway with Ruby already back by her side.

“That was so cool,” Ruby remarked, swinging her arms happily and brushing into Weiss’ side in the process.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“And learned a valuable lesson!” Ruby added with a grin.  “See, Yang just needed to give me a good reason not to mix Dust.  I’d say that was a pretty good reason!”

When Ruby leaned over and gently bumped Weiss in the shoulder, she smiled while an overwhelming sense of contentedness spread through her.  The demonstration was a success if Ruby enjoyed it - with the unintended benefit of a life lesson thrown into the mix.

Making their way onward, Weiss was pleased to discover that this technician moved quickly - his pace unceasing until they neared the DEB floor.  It was only then that he turned around in order to explain where they were headed.

“Schnee Dust doesn’t just refine and sell Dust,” he said while skillfully walking backward.  “We’re also responsible for the majority of Dust research and development, as well as the only producer of Dust Enhanced Bullets - or DEBs, for short.”

Stopping by a set of double doors, he scanned his badge at the security access point before pulling one open for them.

“Welcome to DEB’s room.”

In unspoken agreement, they waited for Ruby to enter first - which she did before immediately letting out a gasp of amazement.

“Now we’re talking,” Yang remarked with a grin, walking inside with Blake.

Bringing up the rear, Weiss found her companions staring in wonder at the massive assembly lines running in front of them.  Each one carried a different caliber bullet that was being filled with Dust and capped with a corresponding color. Further down the line, the DEBs were being placed into cartridges or boxes and carried into the shipping facility just beyond the large doors on the far end of the room.

“So many bullets!” Ruby squealed with happiness, her eyes twinkling in glee.

“Around fifty million Lien’s worth of DEBs are shuttled through here each day,” the technician commented proudly.  “They’re loaded onto trucks in the next room and sent all over Vale.”

“Are you drooling?” Weiss teased Ruby, who snapped her jaw shut and wiped the edge of her mouth like it might actually be true.

“I’ve never even imagined so many Dust bullets before!” Ruby exclaimed while she took in the sights.  “I just think like...Dust, right? Powdery stuff. But these are awesome!”

“Ok,” Yang said, turning to the man with one hand on her hip.  “Where are the shotgun shells?”

After looking to Weiss for permission, which she granted with a single nod, he waved for Yang to follow him.

“Weiss,” Ruby suddenly whispered, nudging Weiss’ elbow gently.  Looking away from Blake and Yang - who were following the man across the room - Weiss saw Ruby nod her head towards a small pile of red Dust sitting unattended on a nearby workstation.  It was a serious breach of security protocol for it to be there without any supervision, but Weiss highly doubted the infraction was what drew Ruby’s interest.

“What do you think’ll happen if I sneeze on that?”

Ruby’s eyes were twinkling so merrily at the thought that Weiss had to smile.

“Why don’t you try it and find out?” she teased in return.  Immediately lighting up, Ruby leaned towards the table and sucked in a deep breath.  Panicking, Weiss’ hand shot out and covered Ruby’s mouth before pulling her away from the workstation.

“Don’t actually do it!” Weiss yelped while Ruby giggled into her palm.  Only when she was sure that Ruby wasn’t going to try again did she remove her hand.

“I wasn’t actually gonna do it!” Ruby quipped.  “I just wanted to see what you’d do. Apparently, you’ll adorably freak out!”

A startled scoff slipped out while Weiss’ cheeks flushed at the compliment.

“I didn’t…‘freak out,’” she mumbled, glancing at the ground but immediately looking back to catch Ruby’s gleeful laugh.  It didn’t seem to matter what Ruby was laughing about - the sound always made Weiss’ heart jump with happiness.

Plus, she had freaked out a little bit.  Red Dust was highly explosive and even that small amount could cause a sizeable explosion if disturbed.  Which, obviously Ruby had already known…

“Hey Weiss!”

Across the room, Yang was holding up a box filled with blue-ringed shotgun shells while Blake held several cartridges that would fit into Gambol.  “Can we have these?”

When Weiss nodded her head, Yang pumped her fist in victory and grabbed another box off of the assembly line.  Her teammates had always loved coming to the factory with her because it meant they got to go home loaded with Dust bullets and the newest technology available.  For her part, she loved being able to set her friends free like kids in a candy store - only better, because it involved Dust and not candy.

“Would you like anything?” she asked Ruby.  “Sniper bullets are over there.”

Ruby’s eyes shot in that direction, before moving back to Weiss with open desire in her silver eyes.

“Can I?”

“Of course.  Whatever you want.  What’s mine is -” The phrase caught in Weiss’ mouth, but she’d already let too much slip.

“What’s mine is yours...” she finished quietly, her mind scrambling for a different subject to lead them too.  None came to mind while Ruby’s brow furrowed in confusion, before she eventually turned to Weiss with a thoughtful expression.

“You’re so generous, Weiss!  Thanks for showing us around!”

The gratitude was extremely genuine - one of those rare moments where Ruby appeared to be years older than she actually was.  But in a flash, the normal Ruby returned - grinning at the line of bullets. “Do you have any green ones?”

“Over here,” Weiss replied, leading them in the right direction while still feeling the weight of appreciation lifting her spirit.  In coming here today, she’d wanted to show Ruby an amazing experiment that hardly anyone was blessed enough to see. She’d wanted to show off her importance with their fancy badges and VIP treatment.  She’d wanted them to have a good time.

None of her planning had included a desire to be seen as generous, yet that’s what Ruby had pulled out of the day.  Again, her capacity to find the good in everything, even when Weiss wasn’t sure it was there, was astounding. It made her want to become a better person - and next time, she’d plan a trip with generosity in mind.

“Thanks, Weiss!” Yang called out, rejoining them by the high caliber bullets Ruby was gushing over.  “Blake and I are heading out again and could use the extra firepower!”

The statement instantly captured Ruby’s attention.

“Another hunt?  Can I come??”

The hopefulness in the question instantly sent Weiss’ heart careening into the pit of her stomach.  Another hunt? They’d just gotten back from one that had gone horribly wrong, how could Ruby possibly want to go out again so soon?

Fortunately for Weiss’ current mental stability, Yang was shaking her head.

“Sorry, Ruby - this is one of those sneaky hunts.  I’m lucky Blake’s letting me tag along!”

“You promised to do everything I tell you to,” Blake replied with a smug smile.  “How could I resist?”

“Oh.”

The disappointment on Ruby’s face filled Weiss with a host of conflicting emotions, but none more prevalent than regret that anything would stand in the way of Ruby’s complete happiness.  Yang must have felt the same because she reached out and tapped her sister lightly on the shoulder.

“But hey, how about when I get back we look at some hunts together and pick one you can come on?”

“Ok!” Ruby replied, instantly happy again.  “I don’t really wanna be sneaking around anyway!”

“Believe me, no one does.”  Letting out a brief laugh, Yang grimaced at the look on Blake’s face and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.  “I mean sneaking is super cool! Like really - really cool.”

When Blake shook her head at Yang’s attempted apology, Ruby turned to Weiss with a happy smile.  She tried to match Ruby’s joyfulness, but most likely failed.

They were going to let Ruby pick out another hunt.  They were going to take Ruby out into the forest again.  The first one hadn’t been an isolated occurrence - they were going to make a habit of it.  They were going to make Ruby a huntress.

Ruby would be a huntress whether Weiss was ready or not.  And she wasn’t ready. The idea of accompanying them on another hunt made her blood pressure skyrocket and her palms grow clammy.  The first one hadn’t exactly gone well and, quite honestly, she probably shouldn’t even go with them a second time. But could she really let Ruby go out there without her?  They were partners…

“How about we get you a box of each color?” she suggested, temporarily setting aside her distress at the most recent revelation when she noticed the difficulty Ruby was having settling on just one.

“You don’t have to do that!”

“I know, but I want to,” Weiss replied with an easy grin before flagging down the worker nearest to them.  “Can you grab a box of each color for her?” she asked, before adding, “And for those two as well - have everything taken to the lobby for us.”

“Of course,” the woman said with a nod, but before she could hurry off Weiss reached out to stop her.

“And please have someone deal with the Dust left out on that table over there.”

After following Weiss’ gaze, the woman’s eyes widened in horror, but the instant she opened her mouth to apologize Weiss cut her off.

“It’s alright, but please have it taken care of right away.”

With a look of relief and another nod, the woman rushed off to fulfill the instructions.

“Are you gonna show us around the rest of this place or what?” Yang goaded the DEB technician who’d walked them down here.  The man was flustered by her teasing, probably unsure of what to do when his directions from Winter hadn’t included a full factory tour.

“I’m sure it will be fine with Winter,” Weiss told him, putting those fears at ease.

“In that case...allow me to take you through a timeline of Dust production,” he proclaimed with a grin, waving them after him and hurrying back towards the hall.  Chuckling at his enthusiasm, Yang grabbed Blake’s hand and walked ahead while Weiss trailed behind with Ruby.

It was customary for the two of them to walk together, but how did Ruby feel about it?  Was it easier to walk with Weiss because Yang stayed by Blake’s side? Or was there an actual desire for partnership that paired the two of them together?

“What do you do while they’re away on hunts?” Weiss asked in order to fill the temporary silence before their guide began speaking again.

“Sleep in, hang out, practice...not much.”

Nodding at the answer, Weiss had a sudden idea that she was immediately hesitant in pursuing.  But...if she never reached for the things she wanted, she would end up with nothing in the end.

“If you’re not busy, maybe we could spend some time together?” she asked softly.

No matter how quietly she spoke, she still caught Blake’s attention with the question - her teammate tilting her head to the side in awareness, but not fully turning around.  Maybe she’d asked it wrong, but that didn’t matter when Ruby was nodding so emphatically in acceptance.

“I’d love to!”

Overjoyed by the response, Weiss beamed while they headed off on the rest of their tour.  When Ruby pulled the candy bar out of her pocket and began munching happily, Weiss couldn’t escape the feeling that this was one of the best days she’d had in a very long time.  Even though hardly anything had gone as planned, everything had gone exceedingly well.

It was wonderful and amazing to be a part of Ruby’s life again.  Without any knowledge of their history, Ruby was still able to fill Weiss’ life with sunshine and happiness.  It seemed like they were friends - like they could one day be good friends - but…

More than ever, Weiss was beginning to wish that Ruby remembered - if not everything, at least how close they’d once been.  She didn’t need to know all of the little details, but what if she could look at Weiss and think…‘that’s my partner.’ What if the reason they walked side-by-side and the reason they accompanied each other on hunts could be laid out in the open?

Was that too much to ask?  Was it too soon to even consider such a topic?

Weiss meant what she’d told her sister earlier that day - that Ruby would still accept her if she was crazy.  But would Ruby accept her if she was...herself?