What Defines Us - Chapter 31 (Patreon)

One - it wasn’t very fair to spring monumental decisions on Weiss with very little notice.  History already proved that she was ill-equipped for rational thinking under a great deal of pressure, especially when Ruby was involved.

Two - well, the first reason should be good enough.

Had Blake and Yang seriously expected Weiss to tell Ruby about their history within a matter of days?  What a ludicrous expectation to place upon her...when they knew full well how her base personality required far more time to analyze and plan out an appropriate course of action.

It was an unreasonable expectation.  As such, of course she hadn’t been successful.  It was a failing endeavor from the start.

It was nice that they put so much faith in her, but what they failed to understand was how difficult it would be for her to set foot on Beacon’s campus - let alone spend an entire day surrounded by old friends and familiar faces.  The prospect of coming clean to Ruby at the same time was another level of emotional dilemma. 

Could she spill the beans, so to speak?  Maybe. 

Did she want to?

That was the most problematic part of this entire predicament.  She didn’t know what she wanted to do, and she couldn’t figure out an answer no matter how much time she devoted to weighing her options.  

To tell Ruby - or to keep it a secret...at least for a little while longer.

She’d yet to make a decision, and the day of the Beacon Invite arrived.  She’d let time slip away as she fell into the all-too-familiar habit of avoidance - trying to escape overwhelming uncertainty.  With so very little time remaining, she’d declined Blake’s invitation to meet her team at their house to travel to the airship station together.  Instead, she opted to focus on a series of small victories she set up to trick herself out the door.

Because she would go to Beacon - no matter how badly she wished to stay away.  That was a promise she’d made to Ruby, and she was going to do everything within her power to fulfill it. 

Out of bed, get dressed - two small victories.

Small breakfast, out the door - more tiny victories.

Into the waiting car, to the airship station - small, yet growing victories.

Arrive at the station, get out of the car, allow the driver to leave her behind - victories she should congratulate herself for if she wasn’t paralyzed by fear.

Honestly, she was surprised she’d made it this far.  Beacon was so far off limits that when the word came up, she buried it underneath mounds and mounds of work.  To her, Beacon symbolized everything she’d built with Ruby - the foundation of both their friendship and their relationship.  It was at Beacon where her life truly began...and she didn't want to go back yet. She wanted to leave the past in peace.

But she’d promised.  So...this morning it wasn’t Beacon she was heading towards.  It was Ruby. Whatever came next -

“Weiss!!”

Turning towards the sound of her name, excitement tingled down Weiss’ spine when she caught sight of the source.  Ruby was geared up in her combat attire - the boots, the skirt, the red cloak - with Crescent Rose hung on her back and Thorn adorning her hand.  She looked prepared for battle - however big the fight might be. She looked dangerous and extremely capable. 

She looked like a huntress.

It was a sight Weiss never thought she’d see again, yet here it was - racing over before crashing into her for a hug.

“You made it!” Ruby called out, holding Weiss at arm’s length while silver eyes twinkled brightly.  The eager expression was enough to make Weiss temporarily forget her reservations.

“Of course I did.  I promised, didn’t I?”

While Ruby grinned, Yang walked past and clapped one hand down on her sister’s shoulder.

“Come on, kids.  Let’s get this show on the road!”

Watching the full huntress versions of Blake and Yang walk over the ramp and into the waiting ship, Weiss remembered the trepidation laying upon her mood ever since she woke up this morning.  If it wasn’t for Ruby grabbing her hand, she might not have followed her teammates aboard at all. 

But Ruby did grab Weiss’ hand and, whether she realized it or not, provided enough strength for Weiss to board the ship with her teammates.  As she did so, she reminded herself that there would be no real enemies today - only simulations. No one would be in any physical danger.  The only thing in danger was her relationship with Ruby, which seemed to have recently reached a new level of closeness.

“You wore your combat stuff too!” Ruby pointed out while picking a pair of seats in the row behind Blake and Yang.  Pausing in the aisle so that Ruby could have the window seat, Weiss sat down and clutched her hands in her lap.

“I wanted to blend in,” she answered calmly, utilizing the excuse she’d come up with yesterday after spending hours deciding how she might broach the subject of her past affiliations with Beacon.  If she was to fight today, wearing her combat outfit was essential. And Myrtenaster was stored in a locker, waiting to be called if needed.

That was a pretty big ‘if.’  

“You look great!” Ruby replied, hopefully failing to notice the blush the compliment dusted across Weiss’ cheeks.

“You do too,” she managed to whisper in reply before glancing away and watching the doors close.  Her pulse beat faster as her mind tried to wish herself back out the doors. It was too late - there’d be no turning back now, as the ramps drew away and a soft melody announced their imminent departure.

The next second the ship gave a small jolt as it detached from the landing pad, causing her to flinch in surprise.  In no time, they were rising rapidly into the sky before blasting away from the station - destination: Beacon.

Ruby’s face was practically glued to the window as the ship zoomed into the air, remaining there until they’d ascended above the cloud cover and the city below was no longer visible.

“How far are we?  Yang! How far are we?” she asked, standing up in order to look down at her sister in the row ahead.

“Not far, Ruby.  Won’t take long at all.”

Plopping back into her seat, Ruby examined Thorn for a half second before turning her gaze elsewhere.

“Are you nervous?”   

The answer to Weiss’ question was abundantly obvious - Ruby’s knee bounced nonstop while her right hand subconsciously played with the ring around her neck.

“A little, yeah…”

With a soft ‘hmm,’ Weiss hesitantly dropped one hand onto Ruby’s hopping knee.  The gesture temporarily stopped the bouncing...until the other one started up.

“I don’t know what to expect!” Ruby continued, her hand still spinning and spinning her ring in anxiety.  “Or who to expect.  And I’ve never fought in front of anyone but you guys before and there’s gonna be a whole crowd of people plus it’ll be on TV and I really, really don’t want to make a fool of myself!”

Taking a deep breath, Ruby finally focused on Weiss.

“There’s just...a lot,” she surmised with a quick smile.  “I think my mind might really explode this time.”

“You’re going to do great,” Weiss replied, squeezing Ruby’s knee in encouragement at the same time.  They shared a smile before Ruby looked down at the ring in her hands, and her mouth curled into a slight frown.

“Do you think she’ll show?”

When bright, silver eyes found Weiss, they gleamed with unconcealed hope.  The expression reinforced what Yang had said and what Weiss already knew - how could anyone possibly want to disappoint Ruby?

“I think she’d be stupid not to.”

The answer seemed to reassure Ruby, but her knee kept bouncing and her ring kept spinning.  Weiss could only imagine what must be going through Ruby’s mind right now - between seeing Beacon for the ‘first time,’ potentially meeting her long-lost partner, competing against a group of full-fledged huntsmen and huntresses...as Ruby had so aptly put it - it was a lot.

But for every ounce Ruby was nervous, she was also clearly excited.  As usual, she ran towards a challenge with a smile on her face and a hop in her step.  She embraced adversity. No matter how big this moment may be, she’d rise to it - and then above it.

“Have you been to Beacon before?” Ruby suddenly asked, breaking the silence while turning away from the window.

“I - yes, but a long time ago,” Weiss fibbed, unprepared for the question.  However, Ruby accepted the answer readily - bobbing her head before staring out the window and falling back into silence.

Weiss’ stomach jumped into her throat when the ship began its rapid descent, amplifying her pulse as they fell into the clouds.  Reaching over, she clasped one of Ruby’s hands in her own - much more for her own support than for Ruby’s. Glancing at their joined hands, Ruby grinned and moved closer to the window as they dropped below the clouds - and she gasped when the ship was finally sailing through clear skies again.

There it was.  Beacon.

When Blake stood and looked over the back of the seats at them, Weiss dropped Ruby’s hand and then immediately cursed herself for being so modest.  Once upon a time, she hadn’t cared so much about what others thought, but today...it was as if she and Ruby were starting new - and that meant nerves and modesty were back full force.

“Are you ready?” Blake asked - although Weiss wasn’t sure if the question was directed more towards her or Ruby.

Giggling, Ruby leaned into Weiss’ shoulder.

“I’m super pumped!”

Speechless, Weiss responded to Blake’s inquisitive eyes with nothing more than a small nod.

Ready?  No, she wasn’t.  But it didn’t matter if she was ready or not - they were already there.  In a matter of hours, Ruby would be fighting in the tournament...with or without Weiss.

The slight bump of the airship docking made her wince while her heart climbed higher into her throat.  When the other passengers began standing up, she remained glued to her seat, her nerves shooting like livewires through her veins.  It wasn’t until Ruby stood and tapped Weiss’ shoulder that she persuaded her limbs to carry her off the ship and towards the entry to Beacon’s grounds.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement as large groups of attendees emptied from a series of airships that had arrived nearly in unison.  Undeterred by the crowds, Ruby raced ahead - shooting down to the bottom of the ramp before letting out another gasp.

“Wowww!!”

From here, the view of Beacon was quite awe-inspiring.  The sparkling buildings, many recently rebuilt. The sprawling walkways, the towering trees, the green forest in the distance...and the people.  Crowds and crowds of people walked or gathered around the edges of the paths. Most of them appeared to be spectators, but more than a few students milled about.  And, standing out amongst the crowds, were one or two other huntsmen - easily identifiable by the weapons they were hauling around.

“I mean, I’ve seen pictures and stuff, but wow!” Ruby continued with an excited hop as they followed the flow of people away from the airship.  “Look at this place!”

Reaching the first break - where the new arrivals began to disperse in all directions towards their ultimate destinations - Ruby raced a few paces ahead and spun in a slow circle, her lively eyes taking in all of the sights before she turned back to them and waved.

“Come on, guys!” 

While Ruby raced ahead, pausing every few feet to take another good look around, Weiss watched from afar and willed her feet to carry her further.  Feeling a warm presence by her side, she turned and found Yang standing beside her - lilac eyes following Ruby with a small smile on her lips.

“You’re gonna tell her today, right?” she asked quietly.

The question made Weiss swallow thickly while her heart continued to beat wildly in her chest.  The ride here had done nothing to help her make a decision. If anything, it only reinforced that she didn’t possess the courage to broach the topic today.  

“Right?  Weiss?” Yang asked again after too much time elapsed, turning that purple gaze in Weiss’ direction.  Swallowing again, Weiss nodded once and attempted a smile. 

“I’m just...waiting for the right moment...”

Yang let out a gentle laugh, as if that was the response she’d expected.

“It’s Beacon, Weiss.  I’m sure there’ll be plenty of ‘em,” she commented before walking ahead to join Ruby, who was again waving at them to hurry up.  Taking Yang’s place by Weiss’ side, Blake remained behind for a second longer.

“Are you going to tell her?”

“Of co-”  Halting the lie before it fully appeared, Weiss sighed and shook her head.  “I can’t decide.”

Blake’s ears twitched in concern, but her eyes showed nothing.  

“Do you want us to tell her for you?”

“Thank you, but it should come from me, shouldn’t it?”

“It should...but if you don’t feel like you can -”

“I can do it,” Weiss cut in resolutely before feeling the courage quickly fade away.  “I just...need to decide if that’s the right thing to do.”

“You don’t have much time left to make up your mind…” Blake whispered before moving to rejoin Yang up ahead.

Only after briefly closing her eyes and sighing did Weiss move to follow, clasping her hands together to prevent them from openly shaking.  The crowds weren’t helping her nerves. If anything, they were only amplifying her anxiety by their presence. Thankfully, it looked like the paths up ahead thinned out as everyone moved to the arena at their own pace.  That’s where Ruby was already waiting for them, hopping from one foot to the other in excitement.

Weiss could do it - she could tell Ruby.  If she wanted to. 

If she wanted to, she could do it.

While making her way back to her team, she did her best to ignore the people surrounding her.  In some instances they were far too close, stepping into her personal space or jostling her. At other times they were far away, but she could feel the looks - the second glances at her outfit as if trying to place her.  And the whispers…Ruby, Ruby, RWBY, RWBY…

Outside of this place, when Ruby was in nothing but street clothes and absent a spectacularly eye-catching weapon, most people would fail to connect her with the legend she’d created.  But here...at Beacon...at a competition for huntsmen…

“Is that -”

“Do you think -’

“Was that really Ruby Rose?”

Fortunately, those who noticed were content to keep their distance - gawking but not attempting to approach.  Ruby probably wouldn’t have minded if they did, but the potential for them to ask about the entire team - including Weiss - could be catastrophic.  Not that it had ever happened to them before, but there was a first time for everything...

“This place is huge!” Ruby was saying when Weiss caught up to them.  

With every sentence Ruby spoke, she added a joyful hop at the end for emphasis.  It was adorable and would’ve been thoroughly enjoyable if Weiss wasn’t entirely preoccupied with the large open space they were approaching.

“This is where the new students make their way into Beacon for the first time,” Yang announced, using grand gestures to wave towards the pillars while they passed beneath them.  “Pretty cool, right?”

Watching Ruby intently, Weiss tried to read the reaction - or, more realistically, to see if there was any flicker of recognition in those wide, silver eyes.

“Really cool!  And big!” Ruby answered, turning around and giving Weiss a grin she couldn’t return.

This was where new students made their way into Beacon for the first time.  This was where they’d first met. As inauspicious as that meeting had been, it was a milestone in Weiss’ life.  It was one of those moments she could point to and say - ‘Right there. That moment changed my life for the better.’

But it was nothing to Ruby.

“What do you think, Weiss?” Yang asked while all three of her teammates looked at her with varying degrees of expectation.  

How was she supposed to respond to that question though?  ‘Yes, this looks exactly like the place I met Ruby years ago?’

“It’s lovely,” was all she managed to mutter before walking on - voluntarily leaving that part of her past behind.

Because it was gone. She’d already known that, but somewhere she must’ve held onto the hope that Beacon had survived...if only in a glimmer of recognition.  But Beacon hadn’t survived - just like Weiss hadn’t survived, or Blake, or any of the years of memories they’d shared together.

The absence was only another heartache to add to the pile.

“Think we can sneak into our old dorm room?” Yang asked after a passing moment of silence, throwing a wave towards a group of students who immediately began to whisper excitedly amongst themselves.

“Of course we can,” Blake replied.  “The question is, why would we?” 

“To mess with the freshies!”

Taking Yang’s hand, Blake shook her head and led them away from the rows of dorm buildings whose mere sight tore at Weiss’ composure.  Inside that building - that one right there - was the first room she’d ever shared...and it had been one of the most surprisingly enjoyable experiences of her life.  Staying up late studying for exams (or helping those on her team who’d failed to adequately prepare), watching scary movies all weekend when it rained, trying and failing to make their own soap...all of those memories were bundled up in that unassuming building.

Where they would stay.

“Which one was ours?” Ruby asked as they walked by, her eyes lingering a moment longer.

“That one right there,” Yang answered while pointing it out to Ruby, who merely nodded and then turned away.  That was it. 

Meanwhile, Weiss’ eyes flitted back to the building until it was out of sight, but not out of mind.

This was something like taking a walking tour through her most painful memories - hurting more and more with every subsequent building that was passed without a hint of recognition.  It was as if they were acknowledging that the past didn’t exist anymore. Even though Weiss remembered it vividly, it was gone.

Unfortunately, it would get worse before it would get better - if it would get better at all.  Next up was the dining hall, where she refused to allow her eyes to remain for too long.  Food and Ruby would always be intertwined in her mind... 

“That’s the dining hall.  They’ve got some good food.  And some not so good food,” Yang explained with a chuckle.  “Oh, and there’s a classroom building.”

Pausing, Weiss looked up at the slanted roof and felt her heart clench.  

That wasn’t just any classroom building.  That was the building Ruby had climbed on top of to shout her feelings for Weiss - and practically the rest of Beacon - to hear.  It had been one of the most utterly embarrassing yet greatest moments of her life rolled into one.

‘Ruby, get down here right now!’ she’d yelled at her partner in vain.  

‘Not until you say you’ll go out with me!’

‘Sure!  Fine! Whatever you want, just get down here!’  

When Ruby had gleefully jumped down, to much applause, Weiss had pretended to be angry, but she’d secretly been...ecstatic.  All of the feelings she’d been unable to express to Ruby had been returned tenfold. It only took Ruby’s courage and lack of social etiquette to finally bring them together.

Who would’ve thought that what Weiss needed was someone to love her so loudly...so unabashedly...that they’d literally shout it from the rooftops?

Feeling someone step beside her, she hastily wiped a tear from her eye.  

“Weiss…” Blake whispered.

“I’m fine.”  The response was so automatic, Weiss could only shake her head after.  “I’ll be alright,” she corrected, shooting a worried glance towards Yang and Ruby.  The last thing she wanted was for Ruby to wonder why a classroom building was worth so much emotion.  

“We should probably head to the arena now,” Blake called out to the other two, giving Weiss’ shoulder a gentle squeeze.  “We don’t want to be late.”

Yang looked their way before nodding and throwing on a smile for Ruby.  

“Come on, Ruby.  Time to show you the best part of the campus!”

Glancing at the buildings one more time, Ruby smiled at Weiss before happily following her sister away.  Passing between several taller buildings and making it through a small square, they turned a corner and suddenly the arena came into view - towering in the distance down a long avenue that was crawling with people.

This was where all of the action was happening.

As they joined the fray, Blake remained by Weiss’ side until Ruby glanced over her shoulder and paused for them to catch up.  Only then did Blake seamlessly move ahead to walk with Yang, sliding her hand into her partner’s to announce her presence and earning a grin in return.

“You doing ok?” Ruby asked, giving Weiss a concerned expression.

“Yes, why?”

“You seem kinda quiet.”

“It’s...all the people,” she answered, diverting her eyes from a group of rambunctious students who’d just pointed their way before talking amongst themselves.  “I’m not a huge fan of crowds.”

Ruby immediately slid closer to Weiss, as if to provide a physical barrier preventing anyone else from getting too close.  

“Gotcha.  But you’re still having fun, right?”

“Of course.”

Satisfied with that answer, Ruby grabbed Weiss’ hand and led her through the groups of people.  The arena towered over them as they neared the entrance, while the sounds of many voices mingled in the air to create one loud drone filled with anticipation and excitement.

A wide pathway led directly to the main entrance of the arena - a several-stories-tall, hundreds of feet wide, gaping opening with gates thrown open to accept the throng of spectators inside.  But this wasn’t the entrance they would use. There were multiple smaller entrances located around the side of the arena for huntsmen and other staff. It was when Yang and Blake led them off of the main walkway towards one of these entrances that Ruby suddenly gasped and dropped Weiss’ hand.  

“Oh my godddd - look at those!!” Ruby squealed, pointing out Fox and Yatsuhashi’s rather intimidating swords.  Although...for as intimidating as the weapons were, the two members of Team CFVY looked far less dangerous toting along what had to be Coco’s fashionably-pink luggage.

“Do you think I can even hold that thing?” Ruby asked, gesturing to Yatsuhashi’s sword.

Pausing to see what Ruby was gushing about, Yang chuckled at her sister’s zealousness.

“Why don’t you go ask?” she suggested.

“Really??”

“Yeah.  Introduce yourself and ask,” she said, giving Ruby an encouraging nudge forward.  “I’m sure he’ll let you!”

Ruby’s hesitation lasted for only a second before she smiled and skipped over to Team CFVY on her own.  Upon noticing her approach, the entire team stopped and listened Ruby to intently before Coco started laughing at whatever was said.  For his part, Yatsuhashi didn’t hesitate in setting down Coco’s bags and removing the sword from his back before handing it over to Ruby.  As soon as he released it, the weight dragged Ruby’s hands straight down and the tip clanked into the ground. Weiss smiled, and Yang chuckled while they watched Ruby strain to lift the weapon and hold it in something resembling a proper fighting stance.  Thankfully, Ruby didn’t try to swing it - and gladly handed it back to the boy, who lifted it like a feather over his head to hang on his back.

It was impossible to hear from this distance and with this many people around, but Velvet said something next and pointed to Thorn, most likely asking about his purpose.  It was the perfect question to ask, immediately sending Ruby into excited chatters about her newest accessory. She then offered Crescent Rose to the team, and Coco nodded for Yatsuhashi to take it.

With a nod, he accepted the scythe and drew it back before launching it through the air.  It had already traveled at least fifty yards before it jarred to a stop and flew back for Ruby to easily jump and catch.

Ruby’s latest parlor trick made Weiss smile.  It was as handy as it was unusual - and Team CFVY seemed to agree from their respectful nods.  Velvet, of course, immediately asked to take a photo of Thorn, which Ruby graciously obliged. As the interaction wrapped up and Team CFVY prepared to continue their way to the arena, Coco patted Ruby on the back and Velvet sent a small wave their way.

With a huge grin on her face, Ruby bounded back to them.

“They’re super nice!  And that sword was heavy.  Did you see me try to hold it?”  As Ruby imitated her struggles, Weiss smiled again - happy that Ruby had enjoyed re-meeting Team CFVY so much.

“They won last year, ya know,” Yang added while they walked on, succeeding in making Ruby’s jaw nearly drop to the ground.  

“What?!  No way! Really?!”

“Yup.  All five rounds - time to spare.  Helps with four people though.”

“But you can finish with three!” Ruby answered, sending a grin Weiss’ way.  “I’ve seen it happen before.”

“Totally doable,” Yang responded.  “It’s just hard to win with three.”

“I don’t care about winning!” Ruby quipped.  “But I want to finish the rounds!”

Catching Ruby’s optimistic grin, Weiss couldn’t help but feel her spirits lifted by the fact that Ruby was already having such a great time.  If nothing else good happened, Ruby’s happiness made coming here worth the trouble.

Mid-stride, Blake’s posture suddenly stiffened.

“Here comes trouble,” she muttered at the same moment Weiss noticed Cardin Winchester standing with his team up ahead.  Unfortunately, the boy had noticed them - more specifically, Ruby - and was already striding over with a smirk on his lips.

“I got it,” Yang replied confidently, smiling while Cardin walked up to Ruby.

“Well well well, if it isn’t little miss - oomph!”

The boy doubled over before he could finish the sentence, his hands clamped over his stomach where Yang’s elbow had just landed with a painful thump.  While he was still hunched over, Yang leaned down and whispered something into his ear - something that made Blake’s eyes widen in surprise. Nodding enthusiastically, he straightened slightly before hobbling off at a fast pace, never looking back.

Noticing Ruby’s bewildered expression at what just happened, Yang merely shrugged.

“He owes me money,” she explained before continuing on as if nothing had happened.  

Violence was never the answer...but well-placed intimidation worked wonders on a bully like Cardin.  As long as it kept him away from Ruby, Weiss was willing to endorse Yang’s methodology. Otherwise, there was no telling what he might say or do just to cause trouble.

As one of the side entrances loomed up ahead, Weiss picked out a crowd of students and several huntsmen gathered around Professor Oobleck - who seemed to be holding court of some sort, which wasn’t surprising given his popularity as one of Beacon’s best professors.  He was the one who let students try to take down an Ursa in their first class - or allowed them into sections of the forest that were off limits. There likely wasn’t a single student who didn’t try to get on his good side, if only to be allowed the opportunity to test their skills against a foe that was potentially way too powerful.

To be a student again...blessed with a sense of invincibility and a good dose of naivety...

“Oh, hey!” Yang suddenly remarked while pointing towards Professor Oobleck.  “Blake and I will check us in. You two wanna hang out here?” 

When Ruby nodded, Yang winked at Weiss before leading Blake over to the crowd of students.  Clearly, this was a pre-designed moment to give Weiss the opportunity to speak with Ruby in private...as if the wink hadn’t made that entirely obvious...

Shuffling her feet and glancing over, Weiss found Ruby’s eyes darting from one spot to another - trying to soak in as much of the atmosphere as possible.  In particular, her attention was drawn to every weapon she found. Knowing Ruby’s mind, Weiss had to assume that a catalog of wants and wishes was being created with every sword and saber that passed them by.

“How do you like Beacon so far?” she finally asked, failing to think of a better question to spark a conversation.

“It’s great!  Really big. I just wish I could remember what these places were.”  

“But I thought you didn’t want to know your past…” Weiss replied, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“I don’t!  But I do. It’s a really weird situation going on in my head right now.” 

Regardless of whatever mental turmoil Ruby was experiencing right now, she grinned  That had always been one of her strengths. No matter what the world decided to throw at her, she always found a reason to smile.

“It’ll be better once I’m fighting,” Ruby added, her gaze flitting from one person to the next.  “Then I can focus on the fight and not…everything else...”

“You’ll be out there soon,” Weiss replied, although she wasn’t sure if her reply was reassuring or distressing.  The closer they drew to the arena - and the walls were only a matter of feet away from them now - the closer they grew to revelation or disappointment.

After scanning several other faces, Ruby finally turned to Weiss with an embarrassed smile.

“I keep thinking I’ll recognize someone,” she admitted while reaching up to touch her necklace - the action all but saying who she was trying to find.  “Kinda dumb, right?”

“No, Ruby…” Weiss immediately replied before struggling to find the words she wanted to say next.  

That was a wish she’d made so many times...that Ruby would just remember - as if it was as easy as that.  Like flipping on a light switch, all of those memories would return.

It was something she wished for, but knowing that Ruby sometimes felt the way only filled her with regret. 

“That’s not dumb at all,” she continued, giving Ruby an encouraging smile.  “I think that’s a pretty natural response after what you’ve been through.”

“Yeah...let’s hope everyone else is as understanding as you!” Ruby quipped before finding another smile that somehow put Weiss at ease even though it was Ruby in need of comfort.  “Oh wow - look at that!”

Distracted by a neon blue crossbow, Ruby practically drooled as the weapon was carried past. 

Grateful that Ruby had such a short memory when it came to difficult situations, Weiss watched the crossbow until she spotted Blake and Yang out of the corner of her eye.  From the look of it, they were having a serious conversation - Blake speaking quickly, her ears slightly flattened while Yang listened intently. Yang’s brow was furrowed, but she was beginning to nod in agreement with whatever Blake was saying.

What were those two up to now?

“You’ll stay with me until we go in?” Ruby asked - the question so openly earnest and hopeful that it tugged strongly at Weiss’ heart. 

“I’ll stay until you want me to go,” Weiss replied with a gentle smile.  

Even though Ruby smiled back, she couldn’t know that that moment might be closer than either of them realized - that she might have reason to ask Weiss to leave and never come back.  Until then...Weiss would stay by Ruby’s side.

Seeing Yang and Blake walking back to them, Weiss dropped Ruby’s gaze and turned to face the rest of their team.

“Turns out they need you to go over yourself,” Yang said while joining them.  “Wanna run over there and get checked in?”

“Sure!” Ruby replied, racing to Blake’s side to head over to Professor Oobleck.  When Weiss moved to follow, Yang stuck out an arm to stop her - allowing Blake and Ruby to move on without them.

“Hey, hold on a second,” Yang said, gently turning Weiss towards her and lowering her voice.  “How’re you doing?”

Sighing, Weiss glanced at Ruby and Blake before turning back to Yang.

“I’ve been better.”

Nodding, Yang’s eyes also flitted to Ruby before fixing on Weiss.

“Listen, it was too much to ask you to come here and tell Ruby,” she said, her voice soft and full of understanding.  “So don’t worry about it, ok? We can tell her later if you want.”

“But...what about her partner?” Weiss asked in surprise.

“I’ll make something up.  She’ll be disappointed, but she’s survived worse.”  Giving Weiss a hopeful smile, Yang patted her once on the shoulder.  “We’d rather you didn’t have another aneurysm.”  

Stunned by the change of events, which Weiss now knew must’ve been the topic of conversation she’d just witnessed, she had no idea how to respond.  This took a tremendous amount of pressure off of her and meant that she wouldn’t be letting Yang down if she (most likely) failed to tell Ruby the truth.  She hated the idea that Ruby would be disappointed, but this might be the breath of relief she needed to survive the day.

Trying to smile in acceptance, she nodded.

“Thank you…”

“Yang!”  

Hearing Ruby’s voice, both of them turned in that direction at the same time - finding Ruby throwing her arms up in exasperation.

“What’re you talking about?  They’re not even doing check-ins!”

“They aren’t??” Yang asked with nearly-genuine surprise.  “Then who did Blake and I talk to??”

Quickly understanding that it had been a joke, Ruby pouted while Yang laughed.

“Ruby!!”

There wasn’t time to find the source of the voice before an orange missile slammed into Ruby and lifted her feet right off the ground.  Weiss’ initial shock quickly dissipated into familiarity - which morphed into concern in a heartbeat.

Nora.

“Rubyyyy!  I’m so happy to see youuuu!” Nora sang cheerfully, keeping Ruby’s arms pinned to her side while swinging her in the air like some prized doll.  For her part, Ruby didn’t seem too concerned, but was dumbfounded by what was happening.

“Uh...hi?”

Dropping Ruby to the ground, Nora took a half step back.  “Hi!” she said with a grand wave and giant smile. “Long time no see, silly goose!  Look at you all up n’ attem - oh cool glove!!”

Nora - the epitome of unpredictable.  Taking a slow step back, Weiss tried her best to disappear and not draw Nora’s attention lest the girl completely blow her cover.   Thankfully, Nora’s focus was centered squarely upon Ruby while grabbing her hand to peer over Thorn.

“Ruby, this is Nora,” Blake explained, nodding to Nora before gesturing to the stoic boy only now catching up to them.  “And this is her partner, Ren. They’re members of Team JNPR.”

When understanding showed in Ruby’s expression, it dawned on Weiss as well.

A stranger running up out of the blue - Ruby could’ve thought that Nora was her long lost partner.  Thankfully, Blake cleared up that potential misunderstanding seamlessly.

“Are you competing today?” Ruby asked with a friendly grin.  If she was disappointed, it was impossible to tell. Was she disappointed?  If she was disappointed that Nora wasn’t her partner, what would she possibly think of Weiss?

“I wish,” Nora replied with a pout.  “Pyrrha dragged Jaune off on some hunt somewhere, so we can’t fight.  But we asked to be the hosts!”

“‘Asked,’ Nora?” Ren drawled dubiously.

“Fine!  Begged! Whatever, they still agreed!” Nora shouted, adding a giggle at the end before suddenly frowning.  “If only Pyrrha hadn’t agreed to that hunt!” she wailed. “We were gonna crush it this year!”

The disappointment was gone as soon as it appeared.

“You really don’t remember anything?” Nora asked instead, dropping Thorn in favor of looking through Ruby’s eyes and ears as if she might be able to see straight through Ruby’s brain.

“Some things,” Ruby answered, ducking her head out of the way when Nora tried to pull at one of her ears.  “From a long time ago.”

“Then you don’t remember that time I threw a pie in your face?”

“Nora,” Ren gently scolded his partner. 

“Why did you throw a pie in my face?” Ruby asked in confusion, but Nora just scratched her chin.

“Who said I threw a pie in your face?  Hey, do you wanna eat a lot of olives??”

“Uh...sure?”

The response made Nora burst into uncontrollable, elated giggles.

“Alright, Nora, we’d better get going,” Ren said, taking her by both shoulders and steering her away.  “We don’t want to be late.”

“Goodbye Ruby!  And team!” Nora yelled back to them before disappearing inside the arena doors.  Jaw still unhinged, Ruby stared at the door before giving Yang a look of incredulity.

“So...that’s Nora…” Yang said with a little chuckle.  “But we should get going too - it’s gonna start soon!”

“And people say I have a lot of energy!” Ruby replied before bouncing over to Weiss’ side - taking Nora’s unique personality in stride.  

Taking a deep breath, Weiss tried to smile at Ruby when she hooked one arm around Weiss’.  But it couldn’t have been close to a true smile - not when this was it. This was the moment she’d been dreading ever since Yang told her about the fateful invitation Ruby intercepted in the mail.

Blake and Yang led the way towards the entrance being used by the other huntsmen, traveling a more narrow path that took them to a normal-sized door.  Ruby’s head was on a swivel as they walked - looking at every huntsman she could find.

Soon they’d be in the arena waiting area.  And after that...

When they walked through the open doorway, moving from the bright sunlight outside to a dim-by-comparison corridor, they almost immediately bumped into Professor Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch.  The two leaders of the school were welcoming the huntsmen with nods of recognition and respect, but as soon as he saw Ruby, Professor Ozpin walked over with a warm smile.

“Miss Rose,” he said with a whimsical smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.  “It’s wonderful to see you again.”

“You too...Sir,” Ruby replied, dipping her head in respect.  It was clear from her expression that she had no idea who he was, but knew enough to respond politely.  

When Professor Ozpin turned towards her, Weiss’ breath caught in her throat.  If he greeted her by name, Ruby would wonder how he knew Weiss when she hadn’t gone to school here.  But he only smiled at her and made to move by them.

“I look forward to seeing what you’re capable of this time,” he added as he walked away.  Professor Goodwitch gave the four of them a hint of a smile and a soft “Good luck,” before following the man towards the interior of the stadium - likely heading towards the stands where they’d watch the battles unfold.  

Ruby watched after them carefully, as if willing her brain to give her back memories of the two.  When nothing happened, she shook her head and smiled.

“He seems nice!” she surmised.  “Has that whole ‘mysterious uncle’ vibe going on.”

“He’s pretty cool,” Yang replied, her relief at the interaction only briefly showing.  “Professor Ozpin - he’s in charge here. And Professor Goodwitch - she’s not quite as ‘good’ as the name implies.”

Yang’s assessment made Weiss roll her eyes as they continued towards the bottom of the arena - where everyone would wait until they were called upon.  

Professor Goodwitch was a great teacher and an avid disciplinarian.  It was the last trait which led to more than a few encounters with Yang while they’d been in school.  And who had Yang always dragged along for her nefarious plans? 

The sisters had the best intentions when it came to pulling pranks, but Grimm help them they couldn’t master the art of plausible deniability.  That’s where Weiss stepped in and...cleaned up the operation a bit. Less trouble meant less detention for her teammates, which meant they could train more and rise in the ranks amongst their class.  It was a good enough cause for Weiss to get behind.

Voices drifted out of the room up ahead, where Weiss already knew the rest of the huntsmen were waiting.  It was impossible to keep her hands from shaking while they walked towards the open doorway and turned to enter the room.

This was it - the Invite had officially arrived.

“Ok, kiddo...welcome back,” Yang said, holding Ruby’s shoulders and leading her into the room.

The waiting area was located in the bowels of the stadium - several long hallways away from the fighting platform that lifted combatants into the arena.  The tournament had yet to begin, so the room was currently filled with huntsmen. Most were clustered with their teams discussing last-minute strategies or goals, but some of the more social were flitting from group-to-group saying hello and exchanging stories of hunts that had happened since the last time they’d all been together.

Weiss looked to her side when she heard a muffled squeal come from Ruby - whose eyes were huge and flitting in every direction.  The anticipation and excitement in the air were nearly palpable, which Ruby was obviously feeding off of to the nth degree.

“Weiss -” Ruby whispered while her eyes refused to stop moving from one person to the next - or, more likely, from one weapon to the next.  “This is amazing.”

“Yang!” someone suddenly called out before waving Yang over.

“Come on, Ruby,” Yang said, leading Ruby by one shoulder to the center of the room - where the rest of the team captains were gathering.

“I can’t believe they still draw straws,” Blake commented while she and Weiss watched each of the captains shake hands before pulling a single stick from Yang’s hand.  Yang made sure to let Ruby pull first, although she was so star-struck at the moment it looked like she was confused by what Yang was asking her to do. A couple of the captains laughed good-naturedly at Ruby’s wonderment before choosing their own stick.  Some groaned, some cheered, but the results and order were set by the time Yang and Ruby walked back to them.

Or, more accurately, Yang walked while Ruby nearly levitated off the ground.

“Third!” she announced, brandishing the small stick in her hand.

“That means we’ll get to watch teams after us!” Yang said before giving her sister a high five.  

What they didn’t mention, but what Weiss immediately thought to herself, was that going third meant there wasn’t much time until they’d be called in.

“Come on, let’s sit down,” Yang added before leading them to a relatively quiet corner of the room.  As they walked, Weiss kept her eyes trained on the ground and avoided eye contact with anyone she knew.  She didn’t want anyone to approach her with Ruby around. Although it shouldn’t be too difficult for her to be seen as ‘unapproachable’ - she’d spent her entire pre-Beacon life as such.

“I’ve never seen so many huntsmen!!”

Ruby’s adoration was refreshing - even if it was a little misplaced.  Sure, there were many amazing huntsmen here at the moment, but Ruby was better than most of them now - and she’d been better than all of them in her prime.  From the healthy amount of interest she was garnering, no one had forgotten how good she was, but they were keeping a respectful distance.  Everyone knew what had happened, of course. When one of Remnant’s most treasured huntresses falls, word spreads quickly in the aftermath…

When Weiss looked at Ruby - whose eyes still moved from one huntsman to the next - she felt a pang of guilt run through her chest when she noticed that Ruby was once again holding onto her ring.  And she was still searching...because if her partner was going to show up, it would have to be any minute now.

A loudspeaker suddenly buzzed to life - calling for the first team and causing everyone else to let out loud whoops and claps while giving out high-fives to the first combatants.  The team walked confidently out of the room towards the series of hallways that led into the belly of the arena. It wasn’t long after they’d left that a far-off crowd roared to life - the spectators giving a warm welcome to the first of many huntsmen who would be competing today.

With the Invite officially underway, the video screens placed around the room flickered to life and the remaining teams congregated around them to watch the feed of the events from up above.

The Invite wasn’t set up to be impossible - it was meant to be a spectacle of their capabilities.  What set teams apart was time rather than the ability to move forward, something they’d always had a significant advantage at with Ruby around.

A total of eight minutes was given to complete five rounds, with each subsequent round more difficult than the last.  Round five was always some colossal machine or Grimm that teams were usually left with only a handful of seconds to take down.  There were short pauses between the rounds while the stages were set and replays were played for the crowd, but, beyond that, the clock ticked fast.

“Let’s go!” someone called out, earning a “Whoop!” from another huntsman in response before many of the voices faded away in favor of watching the screens.

Weiss couldn’t watch though.  There were far more pressing matters that her mind was latched onto - like the fact that Ruby still hadn’t let go of her necklace.  

The expectation had been removed - Weiss no longer had to tell Ruby - but it still felt like she had to.  What had she been telling Ruby all day? Of course her partner would show up.  She’d be an idiot not to. 

Well...who was the idiot now?

“Making it through the rounds is important, but you also want to be impressive!” Yang said while Weiss avoided looking at any of the screens.  “There’s a lot of people here and they want to see the coolest things we can do, so pull out all the stops - k, Blake?”

Blake rolled her eyes.  “I’m not one for showboating.”

“Come on!  You have to be a bit of an entertainer!  People are watching!”

“That’s what I have you for.”

“But I’ve seen you do some insanely cool stuff!  I only want everyone else to see a teeny, tiny bit of how amazing you are.”

When Yang smiled - that disarmingly genuine smile - Blake pursed her lips and half-heartedly tried to conceal how pleased the comments made her. 

“No promises,” was all she said, but Yang grinned as if it was a big ‘yes.’

A resounding chorus of “oooooh”s swept through the room before a smattering of laughter and shakes of heads.  From the reactions, someone must’ve just been eliminated by knockout. Essentially, if any team member’s aura was fully depleted or if they exited the arena boundaries, the team automatically lost.  It was an embarrassing way to exit the tournament - it was far better to run out of time than to be defeated.

When the loudspeaker buzzed to life and called for the second team, the members were already ready and waiting by the door - heading out to test their skills as cheers sent them on their way.  As they disappeared into the hall, Weiss felt the mood in the room relax now that the Invite was underway. They all knew the drill from here, minus the newly-graduated teams and Ruby.

When Weiss glanced over, she found that Ruby was still searching around the room while biting at her bottom lip.  Reading the expression of uncertainty at the same moment Weiss did, Yang stood up.

“Hey Ruby, come here a second.”  

When Ruby obediently stood too, Yang gave Weiss a small smile before wrapping one arm around Ruby’s shoulders and leading her off to the side for a private conversation.  Unable to hear what they were saying, Weiss nonetheless watched and attempted to figure out how it was going from their postures.

Yang was being supportive and one hand never dropped from Ruby’s shoulder, while Ruby nodded every few seconds in understanding.  When Yang stopped talking, Ruby said some brief words, smiled, and gave Yang a long hug before they came back. Unsure of how Ruby had received the news, Weiss shot a glance at Blake, trying to read her expression, but she wasn’t giving anything away.

“Since we don’t have any moves planned,” Yang began while Ruby quietly returned to Weiss’ side.  “Let’s do this a la CRDL - kill as many things as possible on your own and ask for help if you need it.”  

The game plan made Blake scoff.

“And they wonder why they never win…”

Weiss was too busy shooting glances at Ruby to join the conversation.  Was Ruby upset? If she was, it was difficult to tell. How badly had she wanted her partner to show up?  Would this ruin her time at the Invite?

Reaching up, Ruby briefly touched her necklace before catching Weiss’ eyes.

“Are you alright?” Weiss immediately asked, unable to bear not knowing any longer.  

“Uh, yeah, I guess, but...could I talk to you for a second?” Ruby asked in return, offering a hand that Weiss gladly took before being gently led away from Yang and Blake’s prying eyes.  The other huntsmen didn’t seem to notice them either - their eyes were glued to the video screens while watching the battles play out. Every once in a while laughs or gasps of admiration were added to the distant sound of cheering that seemed to echo throughout the building.

Weiss’ palms began sweating when she realized that this could be the moment.  If she was going to tell Ruby, now would be the time. Forget whatever Yang had just told her - Weiss could tell Ruby the truth right now.  She could look Ruby in the eye and say ‘I’m the one you’ve been looking for’ - potentially destroying everything they’d created in the process.

Before making any decision, she needed to listen to whatever Ruby wanted to say.  Because there was clearly something Ruby wanted to say - made all the more apparent by the thoughtful expression she wore.  

“Thank you for coming to watch,” she said with a smile that didn’t linger long.

“Of course, Ruby.  I’m glad I could be here with you,” Weiss replied, feeling like a boot was pressing down on her lungs when she watched Ruby’s gaze sweep the room one more time before falling to the ground with a downcast air.

“Yang said she couldn’t make it...” 

“Ruby -” Weiss began to say, but her voice cut off before more words could make their way into existence.  

She was afraid.  She didn’t know if she could tell Ruby the truth.  What if it made Ruby hate her? What would be worse - for Ruby to not remember Weiss...or to hate her?

“It’s ok,” Ruby replied with a quick shrug.  “I kinda figured it was short notice, but it’ll still be fun to fight in front of all these people!”

No matter what the world threw her way, Ruby always found a reason to smile…

Glancing over her shoulder at the other huntsmen, Ruby suddenly seemed far more fidgety than usual - and that was saying something.  But when she turned back to Weiss, it was with a big smile that didn’t fit with the jitters.

“She didn’t show up, but you did.  That means a lot to me, Weiss.”

Smiling weakly, Weiss tried to ignore the feeling of her heart painfully throbbing in her chest. 

“Of course, Ruby,” she whispered.  “Anything for you…”

The gratitude wasn’t deserved.  What had she done to earn it? She’d come to Beacon, only to become a ghost when she was needed.  She’d returned to Vale, only to hide behind anonymity.

How could she possibly go through with this?  How could she let Ruby enter that arena without her?  

“Team RWBY - please report to the arena lift.  Team RWBY - up next.”

Staring at the nearest speaker, Weiss opened her mouth but found she had no words to say.

Time had run out for them, just like it had the first time.  She wanted so badly to be that person for Ruby again - the one who’d always be there - only to fail and fail and fail to find the courage.  Every choice she’d made since that fateful day in the forest had proven it over and over again - she was a coward when Ruby needed a hero.

“That’s us!” Ruby announced before rubbing her palms together nervously.  “This is it. I can do this. I can be a huntress, right?”

Hopefully, Weiss’ smile was encouraging and didn’t betray the multiplying distress threatening to overwhelm her.

“Of course you can.  You can do anything, Ruby.”  

Pausing for a second, Ruby bit her lip before suddenly leaning forward and planting a soft kiss on Weiss’ cheek.  The action had hardly registered in Weiss’ mind before Ruby rushed back to Blake and Yang - sending a wave over her shoulder as she went.

“Wish me luck!  I’ll see you right after!”

Weiss stood rooted to the floor for several seconds, her cheeks burning while her heart struggled to find a steady rhythm.  

Had Ruby just...that had been real, hadn’t it?  Ruby had just...

The other huntsmen were particularly rowdy for Ruby, whooping and hollering while walking over to offer her high-fives by the exit - which she gladly whizzed around the room in a swirl of petals to collect.  Walking past Weiss, Yang managed a meager thumbs up while Blake simply wore that concerned expression she had. 

It hadn’t seemed real until this very moment, but as her teammates’ left her behind, reality began to sink in.

They were going to fight without her.

Knees weak, Weiss sat down on one of the benches and struggled to breathe as the raucous sendoff died down.  No sooner had her teammates disappeared through the doorway could she feel eyes on her - their thoughts practically audible.  

They all wanted to know the same answers - Why wasn’t she following?  Why was she staying behind? Was it true then? Had she left her team?  How could she quit on her team? A huntsman never quit on their team.

Abruptly standing, she raced towards the exit without another thought.  Someone called her name, but she ignored whoever it was and kept running.  And running, and running. Not even seeing the halls and corridors she sprinted through - just knowing that she needed to be anywhere but there.  

It was only when she shoved through a door and found herself back in fresh air that she finally stopped - doubling over to put her hands on her knees while huffing out jagged breaths that felt like the beginnings of sobs.  It hadn’t been a long run, but her chest was constricting in fear and panic - hampering her ability to breathe. It felt like something was trying to crush her, while drowning her in the realization that she’d failed yet again.

But Ruby had kissed her.  On the cheek, but Ruby had kissed her.  They were close to recapturing a piece of what they’d once had.  It would only take time. 

For what cause though?  Any relationship they had now would be built on lies - lies that would be impossible to keep forever.  One day, Ruby would find out the truth. One day, Ruby would learn that Weiss had stood idly by and let them walk forward without her.  

Focus. She needed to focus on taking deep breaths.  Steady breaths. One long inhale, hold it until her lungs burned - let it out in one long, shaky exhale.

One…

Another deep inhale.  Exhale slowly.

Two...

Straightening up, she continued to take slow breaths while trying to figure out what to do next.  Briefly closing her eyes, her hand immediately went to the ring Ruby had made for her - the smooth metal sending a tendril of love through her veins.  It was a ‘just because’ gift. Just because Ruby was sweet and considerate and selfless unlike anyone else Weiss had ever met.

A breeze kicked up outside - cold enough to raise goosebumps along her arms while she struggled with her internal demons.

She didn’t want to lose Ruby.  

She didn’t want to lose what they’d managed to rebuild - like a phoenix rising from the ashes of their past life.  

She didn’t want to hurt Ruby be revealing the past, and the mistakes that had been made.  

She.  

She she she.  

All of her reservations were based on what she wanted and what she didn’t want.  What about what Ruby wanted?  What about what Ruby needed?

Ruby had such an easy-going nature that her needs and desires were often pushed aside in favor of the more vocal.  When they’d been together, it had incensed Weiss whenever that happened. She’d gone out of her way to make sure Ruby got whatever she wanted, but this time Weiss was the one actively avoiding Ruby’s wishes.  Even Yang had given her a pass. Ruby would be disappointed, but as long as Weiss was alright…

Ruby would think her partner didn’t care about her.  Ruby would think that someone she’d spent four years training with couldn’t be bothered to show up for a couple of hours on one day.

But Weiss would be fine.

The realization made her stomach turn.  

When had she lost sight of what it meant to be selfless?  When had Ruby’s wants become secondary to her own?

Ruby needed her now.  Not the person she was today, but the person she’d once been.  Ruby needed her partner to be here. For once, Weiss needed to put aside her doubts and do something for Ruby - something that scared the living daylights out of her.  She appreciated Yang and Blake’s concern, but…

She wasn’t that broken.

Seconds later, her weapon locker crashed into the ground by her feet.  Grabbing Myrtenaster, she turned and sprinted back the way she’d just come, bursting into the waiting room and racing through to the other side without acknowledging anyone there.  Flying into the hallway beyond, she followed the arrows leading towards the platform underneath the arena floor.

Mistakes don’t define you.  Your reactions to them do.

She’d made mistakes - more than she cared to count - and she’d run from them.  But that wasn’t who she was. That wasn’t who she had to be. She could choose her own reaction - she could choose how she would be defined from here on out.

She wouldn’t live a lie.  If Ruby wanted this piece of her past to come back, then it would come back.  Weiss would come back.

Sliding around a corner, she found her team up ahead - already standing on the platform that would raise them into the arena.  They were looking away from her, with Yang wrapping one arm around Ruby’s shoulders and holding Blake’s hand with her other.

You’re running to Ruby, Weiss reminded herself as a line of glyphs shot her down the hallway at breakneck speed.  

Ruby needs you right now.  Don’t think about anything else - Ruby needs you.  All those times she needed you, and you weren’t there - that will never happen again.  Because that’s not who you are. That’s not who you’re going to be.

Nora’s voice blared over the speakers, chattering away while Ren’s low drawl paced in between.  The audience laughed at something they said - the rolling sound coming from right above their heads.  

Ruby needed Weiss before, and she hadn’t been there.  She wouldn’t let her partner down again. She would do anything for Ruby.  Which meant she would do this. 

A loud clunk echoed off the walls as the platform unlocked and began to rise.  Springing off the last glyph, Weiss catapulted herself onto the edge behind her teammates - her chest rising and falling with deep breaths of apprehension as they were lifted towards the arena floor.

The crowd cheered louder - their team had just been announced - but the noise was a distant din compared to her heartbeat in her ears when her teammates noticed her presence and turned towards her.  Spotlights suddenly hit them from above, but her eyes were flooded by silver.

“Weiss?”