What Defines Us - Chapter 41 (Patreon)

As a sigh of pleasure slipped past Weiss’ lips as consciousness surged through her veins and her eyes flew open - just in time to catch Ruby pulling away with a rampant blush growing on her cheeks.

“I’m sorry!!” Ruby immediately cried out, pressing both palms to her cheeks.  “I didn’t mean to scare you! You just looked so cute sleeping that I thought maybe I could, uh, ya know - I’m sorry!”

“It’s alright,” Weiss breathed out, placing one hand over her hammering heart and briefly closing her eyes.  “It’s alright. I just...wasn’t expecting that.”

Woken by a kiss?  She wouldn’t have expected that in a million years - yet it just happened.  She immediately wished she could go back and redo that moment...hopefully, her reaction wouldn’t prevent Ruby from doing that again.

“Sorry…” Ruby mumbled before smiling brightly.  “But good morning! Today’s the day! We get to hunt some Nevermores - are you excited?”

“I don’t know if ‘excited’ is the right word...”

“Then are you ‘mentally prepared?’” Ruby teased before giggling and hopping out of bed.  After raising her hands towards the ceiling and stretching her back, she did a little jump of excitement and disappeared into the bathroom before her feet had touched the ground.

‘Excited’ might not be the right word to describe how Ruby was feeling right now either.  Elated, maybe? Ecstatic? Bursting at the seams with energy?

Sighing, Weiss swung her feet out of bed and sat up before rubbing the remnants of sleep from her eyes.  She slept well considering the circumstances - a remarkable feat considering how she once swore she’d never step foot in this place again.  Maybe Ruby was right...the only ghosts here were of Weiss’ own creation. When she wasn’t allowing shadows of the past to control her actions, she could see that this was just a room - it was attached to the past, but that wasn’t its entire identity.

As her eyes swept across the space, she actually found herself silently rejoicing in the comfortable familiarity.  The early morning sun was shining through the window, creating a triangle of light on the floor near the door - a bright spot that would creep towards them the longer they delayed the start of their day.  A trail of red petals led to the bathroom - a physical reminder that Ruby was nearby. Not that Weiss needed a physical reminder when the smell of roses lingered in the air, on the sheets, and on her clothes.

Last night she might have taken a step towards conquering one of her demons, but today she would be forced to confront another.  

Was she ready to leave the safety of Vale and traipse back into the forests?  Was she strong enough to handle another situation in which Ruby would be in harm’s way?  Was she mentally prepared to be a huntress again - accepting the risks that came with such a title?

“I think so…” she whispered to herself before standing and heading to the closet for a change of clothes.

After living with a limited selection of clothing for the past few weeks, stepping into her old closet was like stepping into a dream.  Everything was neatly organized and arranged precisely how she liked it. Everything was in her particular taste and style. The accessories, the shoes, the outfits...the combination choices seemed nearly limitless compared to what she’d been working with.

Today, she needed combat attire…

“Oooooh, I wanna wear this!”  Appearing out of the blue and leaning over Weiss’ shoulder, Ruby picked out the red and black outfit that had been her favorite through the tail end of school.  Breathing in the scent of roses before Ruby disappeared again, Weiss reached out and found her corresponding outfit from the same timeframe.

If they were taking another step into the past today, they would do so together.

Walking out of the closet, Weiss found that Ruby was already fully dressed and hopping up and down in anticipation.  The old outfit was so familiar it made a small drop of yearning spread from Weiss’ heart, but the feeling was quickly overridden when Ruby smiled and waved - flashing Thorn through the air as a gentle reminder that even though their circumstances were similar, they weren’t the same.

Ducking her head and heading into the restroom, Weiss hurried about getting ready for the day.  There was much to be thought of when preparing for a hunt. First was physical preparation - having appropriate attire, addressing any injuries.  Second was mental preparation - maintaining a calm state of mind, being well-rested and prepared for turmoil.

Fortunately, they got a good amount of sleep last night.  They likely wouldn’t have had Weiss not emphasized that they couldn’t account for every possible situation and strategy in the short amount of time they had.  Even though both of them were prone to being meticulously prepared, they would have to accept the unknowns today - there just wasn’t time to do otherwise.

Ever since Ruby discovered the videos from the combat room, her mind seemed to be moving at a million miles per minute.  Weiss was able to focus their conversation upon the current hunt, but there were still questions upon questions that needed answers.  It almost felt like they were back at Beacon - staying up all night strategizing together. ‘Let’s try this.’ ‘But what about that?’ ‘We have to try this out.’  

Ruby’s mind had always been a treasure trove of ingenuity, and that hadn’t changed one bit.  The trick was to slow her down.  Otherwise, she would stay up through the night - or multiple nights - until she discovered all she wanted to know.  It was a slightly-manic quality that Weiss had learned to mitigate through various means - in this case, through a passionate appeal to reason. 

Thankfully, Ruby was pragmatic enough to understand the importance of rest the night before a hunt.  

And a kiss.  Ruby made Weiss ‘convince’ her with a kiss.  Like that was such a horrible price to pay…

Once fully dressed and ready to go, Weiss stepped back into the bedroom and was again greeted by the jarring realization that this used to be her home - their home.

“We get to eat first, right?” Ruby asked with a hopeful expression.

“Of course, silly,” Weiss answered, holding Ruby’s hand so they could make their way downstairs together.  

Somehow, Ruby knew how to press Weiss out of her comfort zone in a reassuring and encouraging way.  If anyone other than Ruby had asked Weiss to spend the night here, her answer would’ve been a big, resolute ‘no.’  But she wanted Ruby to get what she wanted - even if what she wanted was to stay overnight in the home with so many memories Weiss once hadn't been able to bare it.  

With Ruby’s presence, however, the house transformed.  The quiet was temporary - with a laugh or giggle always on the horizon.  The stillness was broken by Ruby’s unceasing motion. It was no longer haunted by memories, but being filled with new ones.  

Remember that time Ruby convinced Weiss to sleep at their old home when she didn’t think she was ready...and then they stayed up late into the night preparing for a hunt?

“More french toast and ice cream?” Ruby asked while skipping into the kitchen and pulling out a chair at the table.

“How about something a little healthier?”  

This time Weiss was prepared to feed Ruby - at least, she’d prepared last night while Ruby sketched a remarkably realistic Nevermore.  

“Wait here,” Weiss instructed before heading to the front door and checking outside.  Finding the pre-ordered food already waiting on the stoop, she picked up the insulated bag and brought it into the kitchen.  

If they were going on a hunt today, they needed to eat a solid meal before leaving.  For Ruby, Weiss ordered ‘the usual’ - eggs, pancakes, toast with jam, and sides of bacon and sausage.  For herself - maybe a whole grapefruit, if she could stomach it, with some plain toast on the side. 

She was nervous but didn’t want to let on as much.  There was no reason for her internal worries to affect Ruby’s excitement.

“Bon appétit,” she said while pulling out a large carry-out platter and setting it in front of Ruby.  “Sorry, I didn’t make it, but there’s no food in these cupboards at the moment.”

“But you still thought to order ahead - so smart!”  With a grin, Ruby began eating while Weiss sat down across the table.  

Methodically cutting her grapefruit into two halves, Weiss tried not to focus on how similar this felt to before.  Waking up and preparing together.  Eating breakfast. Ruby chirping like a happy bird while getting ready - not at all anxious about the impending battle.  The déjà vu drew Weiss closer and closer to the morning of...their last morning together.

“Mmm this is great!” Ruby exclaimed after finishing off the pancakes and setting in on the toast.  “It’s a perfect combination of breakfast foods too!”

“Glad you still like it.  This was what you wanted to eat before every hunt, although normally I would make it.”

“Really?  Dang. I was a genius.”

“Are,” Weiss corrected with a smile.  “At least, when it comes to food.”

“I have a lot of experience eating!” Ruby joked before biting off a large corner of toast and nodding in content. 

Scooping out a piece of grapefruit, Weiss shook her head and forced herself to eat it.  It was on the bitter side but manageable without sugar. Eating half should be relatively easy if she put her mind to it…

While they went through the hunt details last night, Weiss determined that this particular contract required four huntsmen for a reason. Nevermores weren’t to be trifled with on a typical day, but when they grouped together getting rid of them was difficult.  This particular nest was a fifteen average the last time their intelligence was updated - an average of fifteen Nevermores in the skies at any time - but by the time they reached the site, it could have climbed above twenty. 

This hunt required four huntsmen because it needed four huntsmen.

At The Beacon Invite, against simulated enemies, they were never in any real danger.  Out in the forest...nothing was guaranteed. How would she react to Ruby being in danger again?  The first time...she hadn’t responded very well. The situation had worked out in her favor, but this time she might not be so lucky.  If she broke again, if she panicked, she would put them all in danger. And they needed her to be a full member today, not merely an accessory.

She agreed to go because she wouldn’t allow Ruby to go without her, but a small voice in the back of her mind whispered that maybe it was better for everyone involved if she stayed behind.  Remember what happened last time, it said quietly, pushing the memory to the forefront of her mind.  She hadn’t been able to control her emotions. She hadn’t been able to overcome her fear.  The past overpowered her, and she became a liability.

“You ok?”

The question jarred Weiss out of her thoughts.

“Yes,” she answered instinctively.  “Why do you ask?” 

“Well, cuz you’ve had that piece of grapefruit halfway to your mouth for a long time,” Ruby replied as a concerned expression furrowed her brow.  “What’s wrong?”

Admitting weakness wasn’t something Weiss did easily, or willingly.  It made her feel so exposed that she usually avoided it at all costs, but this was Ruby.  As team leader, Ruby needed to know the mental state of her teammates before a hunt. As a huntress, Ruby needed to know her partner’s weaknesses before heading into battle.  But it was neither of these reasons that creased Ruby’s brow. 

As a person...a kind, caring person...Ruby noticed that something was wrong - whether through Weiss’ behavior, her posture, her lack of motion, or something Weiss herself didn’t notice - and wanted to help.

“I’m a bit nervous,” Weiss finally confessed before sticking the piece of grapefruit into her mouth. 

“And you’re nervous becauseeeeee…?”

A small smile appeared when she realized that she would, once again, explain her deepest, darkest fears to Ruby with hardly any resistance.  Ruby always had a way of pulling information out of her...

“Because I don’t want you...or anyone...to get hurt,” Weiss explained, feeling her heart beat painfully at the thought of it.  “I’m worried that I’ll make a mistake, or fail, or cause a repeat of last time.”

“But you’re an amazing huntress!”  When Weiss moved to shake her head, Ruby nodded vehemently.  “You are! You’re so smart and really, really good! I saw, remember?  I was at The Invite, and I’ve seen the videos!”

“That’s different,” Weiss argued.  “The forest is real life, Ruby. The Grimm won’t disappear if you can’t kill them in time.”

“But if you do kill them in time, they will disappear.”

Baffled by the logic, Weiss shook her head.  “What? Ruby, that doesn’t make sense in this context.”

“Ok, you know what you need?”

When Ruby abruptly stood up and walked around the table, Weiss looked at her in confusion.

“You need a confidence boost!”

“A what?”

“A confidence boost!”

Using both hands, Ruby pulled Weiss’ chair out from underneath the table with her still sitting in it.  Ruby then knelt on the ground right in front of her and, after linking both hands together near the floor, looked up at her expectantly.

“What are you doing?” Weiss asked in surprise.

“Step on my hands!”

“I’m not doing that -”

“Yes, you are!” Ruby interrupted.  “You know why? Because I’m team leader and I said so!”  When Weiss stared in dumbfounded shock, Ruby immediately dropped the bravado and found a more beseeching expression.  “And because I’d like you to. Pleaseeee?”

Had Ruby just pulled the leader card?  How long had it been since she’d done that?  Years, at least. The leader card was retired long ago to make room for the ‘girlfriend card,’ which itself was supplanted by the ‘fiancée card.’  

Unfortunately, all three had the same effect.

Faking a sigh of exasperation, Weiss obediently stood and set one foot in Ruby’s hands.  Gently squeezing Weiss’ foot, Ruby was clearly tickled that her argument just worked. 

“Now when I say ‘up,’ you step onto my hands, got it?”

“Yes.”

“Ok.  Get ready...up!”

When Weiss stepped forward, Ruby made a small huff of effort while using both hands to propel Weiss into the air.  It wasn’t more than a couple of feet or so, but for a second she was weightless and free, and then she landed on the floor with Ruby beaming at her.

“Do you feel better?”

That had been rather enjoyable in a strange way.  But why? Because it was Ruby’s wacky little creation?

“I don’t know how you do that,” Weiss answered instead.

“Do what?” 

“Come up with silly things that make me feel better.”

“Then you feel better?” Ruby asked, her smile fully restored.

“Yes.  I do.”

“That’s why you love me!”

The word still threatened to knock Weiss right off of her feet, but she managed to remain standing and smiled in return.

“Yes.  One of the many reasons.”

That list kept growing and growing...

“How are you feeling though?” Weiss finally thought to ask, taking Ruby’s empty tray of food from the table and dropping it in the trash.

“I’m excited!  But also a little nervous.  I don’t want anyone to get hurt either, you know.”

A thread of guilt ran through Weiss at Ruby’s earnest reply.  “I know you don’t,” she replied, reaching out to touch Ruby’s hand.  “And everything will turn out fine. Blake and Yang are pros, after all.  They practically count as two huntsmen each.”

Her gentle reassurance worked wonders in bringing the shine back to Ruby’s smile.

“They totally do!  I bet they wouldn’t even need our help if we wanted to sit and watch.”

The idea of setting up a picnic with Ruby while they watched their teammates take on a horde of Nevermores made Weiss laugh.

“I’m sure they’ll appreciate our help though,” she answered before checking the time - and they were right on schedule.  “We should get ready to leave.”

As soon as the words left her lips, she dragged herself after a skipping Ruby to collect the rest of their belongings.  It felt like another lifetime when Weiss rushed out of this house and swore never to return - today, she never wanted to leave.  Staying behind wasn’t an option, however. They were partners...so if Ruby was going, Weiss was going as well.

No hunt preparation was complete without two remaining pieces of equipment - their weapons and a good pair of shoes.  While Ruby’s boots practically laced themselves, Weiss took far longer pulling her footwear into place. Only when she realized she was intentionally wasting time did she softly stomp her feet and pick up Myrtenaster.  

“When we get back, we should try some of the moves you showed me last night!”  Immediately shaking her head, Ruby blushed. “I mean, our combat strategy stuff.  We should try out the combat strategy stuff.”

“Sure.  We can work on those this week.”

Ruby’s use of definitive words was reassuring.  There was no ‘if’ they made it back, but ‘when.’  The idea that they might not return hadn’t entered Ruby’s mind or, if it had, she already decided it was so unlikely it didn’t warrant further thought or worry.

It was different from the confidence Yang carried about, but confidence nonetheless.  It was much quieter and often left unspoken, but Weiss could sense it - and it reassured her as well.

“Are you ready?” she asked when they stood by the door. 

The version of Ruby standing in front of her was a mesh of old and new - a throwback outfit combined with a couple of new scars and the addition of Thorn.  Reaching out for Ruby’s hand, Weiss watched the lines of thorns glow in a stunning reminder of how connected they were.

“I’m ready if you are!”

Of course Ruby was ready.  She was born to be a huntress.

Overriding her hesitation, Weiss tugged Ruby out the door.

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” she admitted while they walked towards the car she’d scheduled to take them to meet Yang and Blake.  

Thankfully, Blake sent along details regarding a meeting location in a comprehensive message last night.  Ruby was surprisingly bereft of that information, but it had never been her task to put together hunt specifics regarding starting time and place.  That had been Weiss’ job and, apparently, Blake’s in her absence.

Traffic on the way to the airship station went according to the plan, and the car dropped them off precisely on time.  After weaving through several terminals, they found the appropriate pad with an airship already waiting for them. Of course, their teammates were late.  Meaning, Yang was late. Probably looking for the right pair of boots again…

“There they are!” Ruby called out after several minutes of waiting, pointing away from the airship.  Weiss turned and found the other half of their team strolling over - appearing not at all concerned that they were over three minutes late.

“What’s up, lovebirds?” Yang greeted them with a grin.  

“Yang!” Ruby shouted before punching her sister in the shoulder.

“What?  Just callin’ it like I see it!  Where’d that come from?” Yang asked, pointing to Ruby’s outfit.

“My closet!  Why? You don’t like it?”

“I just haven’t seen it in ages!” Yang commented before motioning with her head for them to head up the ramp into the airship.  “Let’s get this show on the road, huh?”

When Ruby grinned, Weiss took a deep breath and steeled her nerves.  Seconds later, four sets of boots clunked up the metal ramp into the cabin of the ship that would take them to their destination.  

For as much as the situation felt similar to the hundreds of other hunts they’d gone on together, it wasn’t the same.  

Reaching the top of the ramp, Ruby glanced Weiss’ way and grinned - sending a flurry of butterflies through her chest.

Maybe it wasn’t exactly the same...but it might be awfully close.

Choosing a seat on the left side of the ship, Weiss was pleasantly surprised when Ruby sat beside her.  Why she continued to be surprised by Ruby’s attention to her, she didn’t know. All she knew was that after spending so long apart, she would never take these small considerations for granted again.

“Surprised Weiss isn’t chewing us out for being late,” Yang joked while she and Blake picked two seats across the narrow cabin.  “You lucked out this time, Blake!”

“Oh yes, I lucked out…” Blake replied with a roll of her eyes while strapping herself in.  Chuckling at the response, Yang turned her attention to Ruby.

“So are you excited or what?” Yang asked while lightly tapping her fists together.  “Did Weiss give you some pointers?”

“Yup!  And she did!  We went over some strategies last night!”

“Awesome!  We’ll see what happens, but maybe you’ll get to use them.”

When Yang reached across and Ruby slapped her hand for a high five, Weiss leaned back in her seat and took another deep breath.

With just the four of them boarding, it was only a few more minutes before the ramp raised and the pilot began flipping a variety of switches in the cockpit.  Engine noise roared into the cabin, and the next second the ship shot into the air - dropping her stomach in the process.

They were on their way.

Exhaling slowly through her mouth, she briefly closed her eyes and focused on her heart.  It was beating rapidly, but the overwhelming fear of their last trip outside the walls had diminished substantially.  So much had changed since that day - like how seeing Thorn on Ruby’s hand was now reassuring, not terrifying. And she wasn’t silently cursing Yang for taking unnecessary risks with Ruby’s life.

This wasn’t going to be a repeat of last time because this wasn’t last time.  They’d all changed since that day.

Opening her eyes and looking across the cabin, she found Blake studying her intently.  Meeting Blake’s intense gaze for only a second, Weiss managed a small smile before directing her gaze towards Ruby.

She understood why Blake was watching her - just like the last time.  One of Blake’s many talents was identifying weaknesses, both physical and emotional.  Today, she was checking Weiss’ mental state and calculating how much attention needed to be diverted from their ultimate goal to prevent her from becoming a handicap.  Hopefully, she wasn’t sending off as many of those vibes today...

When the ship turned sharply in the air, the paved streets beyond the window gave way to nature.  The outer wall passed quickly underneath and, with it, the edge of safety disappeared. 

Just when Weiss began to worry about her increasing heartbeat, Ruby reached over and clasped one of her hands around Weiss’.  The simple gesture succeeded in leveling off her heart rate and sending a breath of calm through her jittering fingers.

There was hardly time to analyze the situation before Ruby called out, “There!” and pointed through the window for Weiss to see.  Craning her neck to find the proper view, she could make out the shapes of Nevermores dotting the horizon - nothing more than black pinpricks from this distance.  Yang and Blake unclipped themselves and walked over to see what they would soon be up against.

“It’s close,” Blake whispered before turning away, and Weiss nodded in agreement.  They weren’t far from the outer reaches of the city. If the Nevermores continued to swarm and grew in numbers, the deadly mass of Grimm might decide to move towards the wall.  

There was a reason why this hunt was marked as a priority - just like last time...

The sound of the engines suddenly dulled to a loud hum when the ship stopped its forward motion and hovered in the air.

“Sorry ladies,” the pilot called to them from the cockpit.  “Can’t take you any closer. These skies are a no-fly zone.”

“Not after today!” Yang quipped before giving him a wave and moving toward the back of the ship.  Grabbing a handhold, she hit the door release as the ship descended - letting in a rush of wind and views of green, green, and more green.  The tops of the trees were still a good hundred feet below them when the ship came to a stop.

“Ruby on me,” Yang said, motioning Ruby towards her and raising her voice to be heard over the rushing wind.  It was only then that Ruby let go of Weiss’ hand, pulled out Crescent Rose and moved to her sister, who grabbed one of her shoulders and grinned.  “Ok Ruby - leader gets to jump out first!”

Ruby grinned at Weiss before taking a jogging leap out of the airship and disappearing from view.  Yang jumped out immediately after, making sure she wasn’t far behind. When Blake gestured for Weiss to head out next, she stood and walked to the edge of the ramp - where steel gave way to nothing.

This was it.

One hop forward and gravity instantly took hold.  Dropping to the ground while making sure to maneuver carefully through the trees, she crouched in perfect time to cushion her fall and absorb the shock through her knees.  As soon as her feet touched the ground, her nerves reappeared, but she shoved them as far away as possible and focused on her training. 

Scan the surrounding area.  Listen for anything out of the ordinary.  Determine the direction of the objective. Review emergency escape protocol.  Most importantly, breathe. Remain calm and focused.

Without a sound, Blake appeared beside Weiss and strode forward to regroup with Ruby and Yang.  Quick to follow, Weiss only briefly glanced above them when the airship retreated back to the safety of the city, leaving them on their own from here on out.

“Blake found a cute little meadow nearby,” Yang explained when they rallied together.  “It’s a bit far from the nest, but we should be able to get their attention from there.  If not, we’re gonna have to do this the hard way.”

Ruby and Weiss nodded, then they all followed Blake while she cut expertly through the trees.  Ruby was behind Blake, with Weiss third and Yang picking up the rear. It wasn’t their usual order, but it would work for today.

With Blake leading the way using her superior senses, the rest of them followed silently and took in the forest living around them.  Unlike some of the denser areas found further from civilization, this patch of woods was sparse with trees, making navigation easier.  The shrubbery was more forgiving if brushed against, and there were ponds and streams easily traversable with a short detour or well-timed leap.  

Clear blues, lush greens, and wildflowers blooming in every conceivable color in between...it was beautiful, wild, and free.   

Being a huntress meant facing the darkest and most unspeakable dangers lurking in the forest, but sometimes there were moments such as these - where they encountered beauty that didn't exist inside the walls.  

“Almost there,” Blake whispered, quiet enough that it was likely only Ruby and Weiss heard.  Skirting around a pond before racing through more trees, they jumped a small stream before Weiss glimpsed a break in the trees up ahead.  On cue, Blake slowed her pace and allowed the rest of them to catch up to her at the edge of a meadow. Shoulder-to-shoulder, the four of them stood at the treeline, remaining hidden by the cover of the trees while taking in their latest hunting ground.

The gently-sloping field was filled with grass that rippled under invisible breaths of wind.  ‘Little’ might not have been an accurate way to describe it, as it was nearly the size of the combat floor of Beacon’s arena - plenty of space for what they were looking to accomplish today.  In the distance were more towering trees, but above those trees was exactly what they’d been racing towards - Nevermores. 

The giant beasts circled the skies around a group of taller trees that had been inundated with a slew of dead branches.  The trees bowed under the weight that had been dropped on top of them, yet refused to break. The dead branches formed a nest - large and rudimentary, but a nest nonetheless.  No one could explain why the birdlike Grimm built nests when they had no means to procreate, but build they did - and they protected their creation fiercely.

Many of the Nevermores swooped in large circles around the area, some landing upon the trees just as others took flight.  A loud caw went up that Weiss heard even at this distance, sending a shiver down her spine.  Swallowing thickly, she wiped one sweating palm on her skirt.

This wasn’t a game.  This wasn’t pretend. There were real lives at stake here - first and foremost, their own.  If they turned around right now, they could go home without disturbing the creatures. 

Of course, that wasn’t their job.  Their job was to move forward and into harm’s way.

“Ok Ruby,” Yang whispered, turning to her sister.  “I’m not gonna give you any hints, but we need to kill those things and get rid of that thing attracting them, using the gorgeous, able-bodied huntresses with you.”

Weiss rolled her eyes at Yang’s boastfulness.  Somehow, Yang managed to joke right before a battle.  The nonchalance was reassuring in the same way Ruby’s unwavering certainty was - as if this was just another day in the forest.  Who cared if there was a nest of Nevermores within shouting distance? Give them a real challenge and maybe then Yang would take it seriously.

“That hardly seems fair…” Weiss began to respond in Ruby’s defense, knowing that they hadn’t come remotely close to covering this specific scenario last night.  But Ruby’s eyes narrowed while she tried to puzzle her way through a strategy. 

First, Ruby looked at each of them in turn before glancing at the Nevermores in the distance.  It was almost possible to read her line of reasoning - Blake, Nevermores, no. Yang, Nevermores, no.  When Ruby’s eyes landed on Weiss, however, they remained there for a few seconds longer - enough of a linger that Yang grinned and Weiss’ surprise began to mount.  Looking at the Nevermores one more time, Ruby returned her gaze to Weiss with a calculating expression.

“Your glyphs -”

Before Ruby had the opportunity to finish the thought, Yang laughed and lifted her little sister off the ground in a hug.

“Look at you, you little genius!” Yang remarked, giving Ruby’s hair a rustle.  

The strategies they’d covered last night were relatively basic - building a foundation on which they could add complexities in the future.  What Ruby was about to propose had been their preferred method to dispose of Nevermores, but this also meant it was one of their most complicated strategies.  The fact that Ruby just came up with it on her own, on the fly, was doubly impressive.

“We take the fight to them,” Ruby continued with more confidence, not bothering to fix her ruffled hair.  “Weiss can get us airborne, then we use her glyphs to maneuver better than they can.”

“Sounds like an awesome plan.”

With a small grin at Yang’s endorsement, Ruby turned to Weiss.  

“Then this is up to you.”

The phrase instantly filled Weiss with dread.  This was up to her. Her teammates were going to put their lives in her shaking, uncertain hands.  All because at one point, ages ago, she’d developed a particular penchant for handling Nevermores. They were her specialty of sorts.  

It all begun with their first battle at Beacon, when she lined the cliff wall with glyphs for Ruby.  After that, there were instances when she’d propelled Yang up to greet the giant beasts midair - something Yang found to be particularly exhilarating and enjoyable.  

Over time, Weiss became their ‘strategist of the skies,’ as Ruby dubbed it.  They each had their strengths - Yang loved Ursa, and somehow understood the giant bears on an incomprehensible level.  Blake loved King Taijitus, with their cunning and precision attacks. Ruby loved everything, but hordes of Beowolves above all else.  And Nevermores belonged to Weiss. 

It meant that she was in charge.  Ruby ceded nearly all of her authority to Weiss to make strategic decisions.  She used to love it. She loved having a ‘thing’ as Yang so profoundly phrased it.  But now?

“Call ‘em out?” Yang asked.  When everyone turned to Weiss, nerves exploded in her chest.

Taking a deep breath, she counted the number of Grimm and then counted again.  Fifteen in sight, which meant by the time the battle was over, there could be at least ten more from the vicinity.  There wasn’t much in terms of tree cover, so her teammates would be sitting ducks if they were stuck in one spot for too long - she’d need to move them rapidly.  Thankfully, she had a great vantage point from the treeline and, if she remained hidden, would have little to worry about in terms of protecting herself.

Taking another deep breath, she again wiped her palm on her skirt.  Gently nudging her shoulder, Blake offered an encouraging smile.

“We’ve done this before, remember?”

Right.  They had.  And only twenty-five Nevermores...they could handle up to fifty.  Of course, that was with a more experienced Ruby…

No, they could do this.  Ruby was just as good as before.  Her instincts were still there. But what about Weiss?  Could she handle this responsibility? If she made another mistake, someone would be severely injured...again...

Moving over, Ruby set one hand on Weiss’ shoulder and leaned close to her ear. 

“I believe in you,” she whispered before looking into Weiss’ eyes and smiling.  “We all do.”

Clutching Myrtenaster - where Ruby had etched the same words sometime in the past - Weiss nodded and shoved the insecurity from her mind.  A strategy was beginning to form - and with a plan came some sense of stability. 

It was time to prove that she was still capable of being a member of this team.

“Alright,” she said with a resolute nod.  “Ruby calls them out. Yang, you’re up first.”

Yang knocked her fists together and grinned while Weiss turned to Ruby.

“Ruby, you’re going to shoot one with Crescent Rose,” she explained. “It will bring them all our way.  Try to hit as many as you can before they get too close. Yang and Blake will take the first two glyphs, and you take the third.  When you see another glyph in the air, you do whatever it takes to reach it, got it?”

Jaw set in determination, Ruby nodded and knelt on the ground to line up her first shot.  While she did so, Weiss shook Myrtenaster to get the jitters out.

The crack of a rifle rang out and, for just a moment, time stood still while the bullet found its faraway target.  One of the Nevermores cried out and faltered in its flight before correcting and turning their way. The rest of the Grimm turned to follow as more took off from inside the nest - three more that they hadn’t been able to see.  

Another shot snapped through the air.  Another. Another. Always the closest Grimm stuttered in their screaming path towards the meadow.

As expected, the creatures were grouping up, forming a massive wall of Grimm rocketing towards them.  Weiss’ first task was splitting them apart.

More powerful shots as bullets sped through the air.  Each one on target. Each one searching out the weakest spots.  Not enough to kill, but by now half of the group had been injured, making the rest of their work that much easier.

The Nevermores grew closer and closer still.  Flying over the opposing treeline, they swooped low to the ground, talons extending and beaks opening in a bone-chilling screech of anger.  Once they reached the center of the meadow, Weiss whipped Myrtenaster in front of her and focused on both her semblance and the Dust residing inside her weapon.  A block of ice exploded in the Grimm’s path, sending them scattering and streaming back into the air in all directions. The unexpected obstacle succeeded in breaking them apart and destroying their momentum - forcing them to flap their wings with great effort to regain altitude.  

Now they had a battle on their hands.  

The closest Nevermore had already managed to swoop back for another attempted attack.  Picking it out, Weiss summoned a glyph in its flight path. Yang didn’t hesitate running over and jumping onto the glyph, her powerful legs crouching and propelling herself high in the air.  Weiss hardly paid attention to Yang’s ascent while picking out another for Blake - and the girl sprang upwards readily. And next for Ruby, who showed no hesitation in taking to the skies.

Three in the air.  Now the juggling could begin.

It was an art of sorts.  It depended upon Weiss knowing her teammates’ fighting preferences very intimately.  Yang wanted to arrive right at the Nevermore’s stomach, where she could grab on for a short ride.  Blake wanted more distance, and she would use her ribbon to pick her own spot to land her first blows.  And Ruby...Ruby could quickly handle groups before using her semblance to move from one to the other - skipping across the sky at far greater lengths than Blake or Yang normally could.  

Distance and timing...both needed to be considered while split-second decisions were made.

Weiss summoned a glyph midair beneath Yang, who fell into it when her ride disintegrated mid-flight.  Yang hit the glyph squarely, rocketing herself towards another Nevermore that didn’t see her coming until too late.  Ruby was next - she was about to finish with two Grimm and needed a lift to her next target. Blake had already roped another with her ribbon.

The Nevermores were confused now, circling and trying to find the huntresses in their midst.  When Weiss opened a glyph to the side and above Ruby, she immediately shot into it and bounced away - straight through a Nevermore with Crescent Rose leading the way.  Weiss caught Ruby below and sent her off to another group that just arrived. A series of glyphs around Blake’s Nevermore allowed her to rapidly hit the Grimm from each direction while still soaring through the air, using each glyph in quick succession before using the final one to spring to her next target.  While Blake did that, Yang needed another lift to a Nevermore higher off the ground.

It was a system built on complete trust.  They trusted Weiss to pick the best path from her vantage point.  They trusted her completely. Her.

A surge of self-doubt caused her concentration to falter, but she quickly shook the thought away.  They trusted her. She couldn’t let them down. She wouldn’t let them down.

Falling back on her training, everything flowed easier.  Two more glyphs for Ruby. Blake was ready to catapult across the field.  Send Yang up to a group of two. Push Ruby over to help. Split them up to catch the incoming attacks.  Move Blake closer for clean up.

The sky filled with black as the Grimm fell one by one.  Bringing Blake and Yang to the same Nevermore, they destroyed it nearly instantaneously before Blake swung Yang towards another one and Weiss directed Blake away.  Rapid shotgun blasts cut through the air. A Nevermore’s cry was strangled from existence by a swiftly-constricted ribbon. Two cracks of a sniper rang out before Ruby sprang off another glyph using her semblance - a cloud of petals catapulting hundreds of feet through the air without ever touching the ground.

If Weiss was the conductor, they were her symphony - a beautiful one, at that.

It was a sight to behold as Blake and Yang tackled the last two Nevermores.  Each of them used a series of jumps and pulls to ping around the creatures before destroying both at the same time.  With the skies cleared and their primary target unprotected, Weiss created a line of glyphs that led Ruby directly to the nest.

Ruby took them like a superhighway - a cloud of red petals combining with Weiss’ glyphs.  At that speed, Crescent Rose would cut through just about anything.

Stepping out of the trees, Weiss brought Blake and Yang back to her - where they dropped from the sky and landed on either side of her in a crouch.  From there, they watched as Ruby sliced through the nest - nothing but a blur with a hint of red from this distance - before pieces began to fall away.  

At first, small branches fell from the edge of the nest, then a more substantial chunk broke off and collapsed through the trees - swaying the treetops and filling the air with cracking as branches broke on the way down.  The destroyed nest had yet to hit the forest floor when Ruby was already on her way back to them, falling from the sky and landing with a grin as multiple thuds shook the earth beneath their feet.

After the rest of the nest tumbled to the ground, the forest was eerily quiet.  The screeching and cawing of the Nevermores was gone. All that could be heard were some distance snaps and cracks as the forest reclaimed its stolen timber.

“Woo!!!” Yang yelled, breaking the silence while wrapping Weiss in a bear hug and lifting her feet off the ground.  “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! I’ve missed that so much!”

As soon as Yang released her, Ruby rushed over and hugged her too, but this hug closer and longer.

“I knew you could do it,” Ruby whispered in Weiss’ ear before letting go - the two of them sharing a smile while Yang shook Weiss’ shoulder several more times.

Over time, and with her wounded memories, she’d forgotten how much she loved being a part of this team.  Together, they’d accomplished some amazing feats - and apparently they still had it in them for more.

Still grinning madly, Yang lifted one hand to call for an airship.  

“Skies are clear - we’d like a nice view of it.”

“You got it,” came the reply.  “Sit tight. You’ll be out of there in a few minutes.”

Dropping her arm to her side, Yang turned and kissed Blake before wrapping her in a tight hug.   

“You totally rocked that, Blake!” Yang complimented her partner before turning back to Ruby and Weiss.  “And Ruby - what’d you think of flying?”

Jumping off the ground, Ruby looked like she wanted to take off into the sky once more.

“That was the coolest thing I’ve ever done!” she replied with a huge smile.  “Do I have the best partner in Remnant or what??”

Ruby’s praise filled Weiss with warmth and happiness.  And, for the first time in a very long time, she felt...whole.  Maybe she wasn’t completely healed, and maybe she never would be, but she certainly wasn’t broken either.

She didn’t know how many Nevermores were destroyed, but that hardly seemed to matter when their mission was successful.  The skies were clear. The nest was gone. Even if it lasted for only today, this section of the forest was safer. 

And if they needed to come back out tomorrow to take care of another growing threat...she was confident that they could handle it.  She could handle it.

“Jeez!  What would we have done without Weiss?” Ruby asked as another sound joined the still forest air - engines.  Their ride home was rapidly approaching - racing further out into the forest to retrieve them now that safety had extended its reach.

“A ground battle.  Doable, but longer and harder,” Yang answered, tilting her head up and scanning the skies for the ship.  Seconds later, it roared overtop them, shaking the tree branches from its proximity, before dropping into the clearing with its tail gate already lowered.  Racing up the ramp, they were hardly aboard before the ship shot back into the sky and hurried back to Vale.

Even though the battle had ended, Weiss couldn’t stop shaking.  This time it wasn’t in terror or fear, however, but in exhilaration and adrenaline.  They’d done it. Everything went as well as she could have hoped for. No one got as much as a scratch of damage.

Ruby’s instincts were all there.  She didn’t need to be told what to do - she just knew what to do when the situation presented itself.  Maybe she couldn’t expressly recall her training, but the lessons seemed to have rooted themselves in her veins - flowing out without her realizing what she was doing.  The more of this Weiss saw, the more she believed that when they finally started their training together, Ruby would remember more than anyone would ever expect. 

But that was the way Ruby operated in every facet of her life - without trying, she could surprise, astonish, and amaze.  With Ruby...always expect the unexpected.

With Vale in sight, Ruby reached over to hold one of Weiss’ hands - both Thorn and Weiss’ accompanying ring lighting up brilliantly as she did so.  The feeling of metal against her skin was unfamiliar, but...it was something Weiss could get used to. 

Squeezing Ruby’s hand, Weiss was pleasantly surprised when Ruby squeezed in return and turned towards her.  

“Thank you,” Weiss whispered, smiling into caring silver eyes that held a love she’d never thought to be possible.

“For what?”

There were so many things Weiss owed Ruby thanks for.  Forgiveness. Understanding. A second chance. 

“For believing in me.”

Smiling, Ruby nodded and said, “I’ll always believe in you, Weiss.”

And she always had.  No matter the weaknesses or imperfections, Ruby believed in Weiss’ ability to become a better teammate, partner, and person.

The airship landing had hardly come into view before Yang hopped out of her seat and walked towards the gate to leave.  Blake followed suit as the ship lowered to the ground with the sound of landing gear locking into place. A slight bump and the engines cut off as the ramp lowered to let them out - back at the airship station, back within the confines of safety.

Back from another mission - safe and sound.  It wasn’t a feat to be taken for granted.

Still holding hands, the two of them stood, but Ruby held Weiss back instead of following their teammates out of the ship.  Turning to Ruby in surprise, Weiss was met with earnest eyes and a smile.

“Will you stay over tonight?” Ruby asked hopefully.

The question was a relief.  There was no way Weiss could sleep alone after spending the past few nights together.  

“Of course,” she replied with a smile of her own.

Clutching Weiss’ hand a bit tighter, Ruby leaned forward to Weiss’ ear, sending a shiver down her spine when soft lips lightly grazed her skin.

“I love you, Weiss.”

When Ruby pulled away, she didn’t go far.  Instead, she tilted her head down an inch and kissed Weiss.  

On the lips.  In the middle of the airship.  With every bit of passion Weiss had been dreaming about for over a year.

Yang or Blake were probably going to catch them, but right now she couldn’t care less.