Chapter 4

Blake was not having a good night. That would not normally mean much, since Blake rarely had good nights. Sunrise was loud, thick with a thousand scents, and far too flashy for her tastes. But the business had been good to her. Over four years spent working the crowded nightclub had numbed her to any shocks and surprises. She had witnessed all manner of things, good and bad, beautiful and horrific. Nothing short of a curb stomp phased her anymore. But Sun finding an old friend? That was new.

He had spoken often about his time in Patch, of the human girls Yang and Ruby, hyperactive sisters who defined his early years. They had been like a second family, a human family, who accepted him without question. Blake had scoffed at first, but enough stories had left her with a better understanding of Sun's perceptions. He was fortunate, coddled, and ultimately suffered a rude culture shock upon moving to Atlas. Yet somehow his enthusiasm and faith never waned. By the time he met Blake, his resolve had only strengthened, his faith in humans clashing with Blake's nihilism. It caused friction at times, eventually levelling into occasional annoyance. Blake knew better than to blindly trust even the best humanity had to offer. The worst was likely to strike as soon as her back was turned.

But so far Ruby had lived up to Blake's expectations, chatting lively with Sun whenever he was near, nursing her drink when he was gone. Ruby steadily drained her beverages, each time waiting patiently for Blake to serve a refill. Once, twice, three times...she had since slowed and slurred, each interaction with Sun increasingly incomprehensible. Toward the end she had even attempted to converse with Blake herself, not that she was interested in speaking with a drunk. She shrugged off and ignored the clumsy attempts at socializing. Blake had enough to deal with, and thankfully halfway through her third glass, Ruby set her head down on the bar and fell fast asleep.

The club was quieting down, the majority of the partying having reached its crescendo around midnight, after which the customers slowly left, stumbling and staggering back to their homes to enjoy their weekend sleeping in. It was coming time to throw out the last of the drunks. Sun rosued those he could, security handling the rest, until finally Ruby was the last left. With the club silent, her soft snores became evident, and Blake was forced to pay attention to the human for the first time since she had seen her rubbing all over her partner.

Ruby's arms had splayed halfway across the bar, her drink having long since been taken and emptied to prevent spillage. Blake absentmindedly cleaned the counter as she scrutinized her form. Toned arms indicated Ruby observed some fitness routine, but her bones jutted a little too sharply. Her eyes were shadowed, bags barely hidden by makeup. She was tired, possibly stressed, potentially depressed. Who else would drink like she did? The obvious dietary issues did not help her tolerance. The hangover would not be pleasant. But to her credit, Ruby managed to handle two and a half full strength Sunrises. The club refused to skimp on its signature drink. They were no sad little cocktail glasses for children, but full glasses each time. Blake did not expect Ruby to make it through even one of the overly sweet beverages. She would have been impressed if she truly cared.

"She still out?" Sun asked, approaching. Blake tilted her head, swatting the human over the face with her cloth. "Hey, come on, that's got beer and shit on it."

"She's drooling on my bar." Blake deadpanned. "Get her out."

"Rubes?" Sun nudged the human, who barely mumbled. He took her by the shoulders, shaking more firmly. "Come on Rubes, wake up." Ruby seemed to stir, her body sliding toward Sun, weak arms pushing her into the familiar source of warmth. Sun had to catch the slumbering girl before she slid off the seat.

Blake was not amused. "Like a dense sponge."

"We can't leave her like this." Sun declared.

"So take her to her hotel." Blake dropped Ruby's purse on the bar, having offered to hold it for safekeeping. The girl was far too trusting.

"You went through her bag." Sun frowned in disapproval.

"I go through everyone's bag." Blake shrugged. The contents were mostly unsurprising - a wallet containing a lien card, several hundred in lien cash, a driver's license, several expired gift cards, and student ID from Signal University. All to be expected, but the firearms permit took Blake off guard. Sun's Ruby did not seem the type to hunt. It must have been a self defense issue, though no such firearm existed in the purse, just a scroll, a packet of miniature cookies, and pepper spray. The spray was good by human standards, but unsuitable for use against Faunus. Myron would have confiscated it if it was.

The discovery of a freshly printed ID badge brought a pang of annoyance:

Ruby Rose: SDC Mechanical Engineer

It seemed everyone was working for the SDC nowadays. At least she was not working in IT. Sun's friends there were insufferable.

"She's got a keycard for someplace." Blake pulled out the digital key, blank but for the manufacturer's logo.

"Blake, that could be for any hotel." Sun noted. "There's like fifty this side of the city alone."

"So wake her up and ask her which one." Blake suggested.

"Oh sure, 'hey Ruby, wake up, we're super busy and don't have much room, so we can't be bothered putting you up for the night, sorry about that-'" Sun started.

"Sun." Blake interrupted.

"She was one of my best friends!" Sun exclaimed. "I haven't seen or talked to her in like ten years."

"That's on you." Blake pointed out. "Give your number if you're so inclined."

"Or we take her to our place so she doesn't wake up confused and alone with a fucking hangover." Sun insisted.

"Because I just love having random humans in my apartment." Blake grumbled.

"Oh, your apartment." Sun rolled his eyes. "So it's only our apartment when it's my turn to vacuum, which I must note is every time."

"You're the only one who makes a mess!" Blake charged.

"And I clean it up!" Sun countered. "Come on Blake, Ruby's harmless. One night, you won't have to worry about her. It's all on me."

"Ugh...fine, one night." Blake pointed a single finger into her partner's face before throwing the dirty washcloth at him, turning to stride away. "And she's taking the couch!"

To put it simply, Blake was not happy. To elaborate, Blake was deeply, instinctively irritated. It was not enough that there was a human in her home, nor was it enough that she smelled of stale alcohol, copy ink and a dozen shitty perfumes and colognes. It was robbing her of a good night's sleep that truly held her ire.

The anxiety normally held at bay by the comforting scent and warmth of the one man she trusted was absent that night. Her mind wandered, her heart clenched, and what little sleep she achieved was fitful, fraught with nightmares. After the first thrashing awakening Blake elected to forgo even trying. One night Sun said, one night, not that the one night was supposed to be spent with a human playing octopus. So what if he did not want to wake her? The human did not need him to fucking relax at night. The little twit probably dreamt about cookies and robots, drooling with a dumb gape as she dozed on her partner's chest.

Because instead of sleeping soundly in her bed, Blake spent the morning curled up in her favorite armchair. Covered in a blanket, she attempted to drown herself in a book, some trashy bargain bin nonsense she had picked up at some point. She watched her partner snore loudly, as the most recent intruder in her life twitched and mumbled.

A particularly sharp jolt saw Ruby's eyes flutter, flicker, then snap open, a look of panic flashing across her face before dozy relief followed. Then came the pain, soft features screwing up as the consequences of a night poorly spent hit the human for the first time. Blake suppressed a grin.

As the pain dulled, Ruby opened her eyes, slower this time, taking in her environment. Perplexed, she pawed at the warmth upon which she rested, before slowly turning her head upward, catching Blake's eye for the first time. She held her gaze for a moment, then blinked, finally looking further upward, discovering her firm pillow happened to be Sun's chest.

"Oh." Ruby squeaked, pushing herself upward, landing beside the couch's other arm before clutching her head. She groaned, rubbing away what little pain she could before attempting to speak. "G-" She coughed, pausing to wait out another flare of pain. "Good morning." She croaked, wiping tears from her eyes. "Sorry, Blake?" The Faunus nodded. "Can I have some water, please?"

At least the human was polite. A part of Blake wanted to decline, just to see how Ruby would react. But she was ornery, not cruel. "Come on, kitchen." She ordered, tossing off her blanket. The apartment was rarely cold. One of the building's greatest virtues was its good heating, something the majority of Atlas strove for, yet rarely achieved.

Padding into the kitchen, Blake picked up an empty glass from the dish rack, filling it with water from the tap. Ruby sat at the breakfast bar, murmuring her thanks when handed the glass, draining it in one long draw. She sighed in relief. "Did I uh, ask to stay here last night?"

"You passed out on my bar." Blake corrected.

Ruby groaned. "I'm sorry, I haven't done this in a while and I really like strawberry sunrises. Thank you for taking care of me."

"Thank Sun." Blake suggested. "I'm not one for humans in my home."

"Oh, sorry...I...I can go." Ruby managed.

"You're here now." Blake sighed, turning to the pantry. "You want a bagel?"

"Uh...sure, thanks." Ruby's quiet voice replied.

As Blake pulled out the bagels and spreads, she considered her next course of action. Being an SDC employee, Ruby would be staying in Atlas permanently. Being Sun's friend, she could expect to see her at the club more often. From Sun's stories, Ruby was loud and energetic but shy around strangers. Blake's impression seemed to fit the bill, though with some deviance. Ruby was visibly pained, limping to the far booth where she would not be noticed, and attempting to lose herself in the sights. Until she discovered Blake's observation at least. She was quick to avoid eye contact after that.

"Toasted?" Blake asked.

"No thank you." Ruby responded.

"We've got jam, peanut butter, butter and hazelnut spread." Blake offered, sliding a sliced and plated bagel across the counter.

"What kind of jam?" Ruby asked.

"Blueberry." Blake answered.

"I'll have that please." Ruby requested.

Setting the jar and a knife before the human, Blake turned to her own meal, spreading salmon paste generously across the bun. The thick scent wafted over her, delicious and pleasant. She breathed it in, losing herself for a moment. A shudder ran through her system, and she froze.

"Uh, Blake, are you okay?" Ruby's muffled voice asked, blocked by a mouthful of bagel.

"I'm fine." Blake waved her off. "Where are you staying?"

"Oh, Mantle Suites." Ruby replied.

"Doesn't the SDC have housing opportunities?" Blake inquired.

"I don't know." Ruby admitted. "I've only worked there for a day...I didn't tell you about my job last night did I?"

"You have an ID in your purse." Blake noted.

"Oh, right…" Ruby trailed off.

"Did you check a gun with security?" Blake asked.

"No, why?" Ruby responded.

"You have a permit, but no gun." Blake observed.

"Oh, mom and dad hunt sometimes, and my sister works in security, so I took some courses and got a license." Ruby explained.

"Hmm, a gun would be wise in Atlas, for a small thing like you." Blake advised.

"I have pepper spray." Ruby countered.

"Human grade, buy bear spray." Blake suggested. "A Faunus isn't going to be phased by a little sting."

"I'm not planning to make a Faunus angry Blake." Ruby sighed.

"You walked into a Faunus nightclub." Blake lectured. "You could have done any number of things to anger someone, and security isn't as attentive to your kind as they should be."

"But you were." Ruby pointed out.

"It was a boring night." Blake said. "You stuck out. I won't always be there. Don't expect the world to baby you. Don't expect Atlas to baby you."

"Blake, I'm not expecting anything, I don't know everything there is to know, and I'm going to make mistakes...but I'm thankful you care enough to raise the point." Ruby smiled gratefully, then frowned. "But I didn't earn a degree and move to a new continent because I expected the world to hold my hand. I'm trying Blake." She sighed, rubbing her temples. "I'm sorry...it's been rough."

"Was it recent?" Blake queried.

Ruby quirked her brow. "Huh?"

"Your leg, you were rubbing it." Blake glanced downward briefly.

Ruby shook her head. "Oh, no, that was years ago. I just didn't exercise much since college and...I did a lot of walking yesterday." She sighed again, picking up her bagel and taking another few bites. They ate in silence for a time, making short work of their meals before the silence began to grow awkward. "How did you meet Sun?" Blake paused, the final bit of her bagel held mid bite as she fixed Ruby with a glare. "Or is that private?"

"What does it matter?" Blake deadpanned.

"It matters because it's Sun, because I haven't seen or heard from him in a decade, and suddenly I find him in a random club with a girlfriend and a life I never expected-" Ruby fumbled.

"I'm not his girlfriend." Blake interrupted.

Ruby looked surprised. "Oh...you're engaged?" She smiled hopefully.

Blake shook her head, rolling her eyes. "I'm his partner." She corrected.

Ruby dropped the smile, adopting a look of confusing. "Is that like a...Faunus thing?" She queried, innocently.

The implication still irked Blake. "No Ruby, it's a me thing." She spat.

"I'm sorry, I just don't know much about Faunus culture." Ruby defended. "Just anime stuff and that's always exaggerated or watered down and I don't trust it…" She rambled in apology, shrinking down to nibble on her bagel.

Blake huffed, pushing down the indignation she still so often felt in the presence of humans. Ignorance was to be expected, especially so in Atlas, but Sun had spoken at length about Ruby's lack of prejudice and her curiosity. Unfortunately it seemed Sun had neglected to educate her. They were children after all, too busy climbing trees and skinning knees. Typical. "We met when Sun did a trial at Sunrise."

"Ah." Ruby acknowledged.

"He was loud and obnoxious, but followed instructions well." Blake remembered. "So they hired him."

"Sun always was a hard worker." Ruby admired. "He used to mow our lawns every week."

"Hmph, he needs to mow his own lawns." Blake mumbled under her breath.

"What?" Ruby asked.

"He needs to wake up and take you home." Blake swallowed the last of her bagel, stalking out of the kitchen to the couch, where Sun snored away, steady as ever. "Get up...get up dumbass." She punctuated each word with several slaps to the cheek. Sun snorted, but remained dead to the world. "Ugh, stupid rock."

"Tickle his belly button." Ruby suggested.

Blake shot Ruby an unamused look, the human shaking her hand in response. Sighing, Blake reached down Sun's uncovered torso, and stuck her finger in the little depression, wiggling it around.

"Woargh!" Sun yelled, snapping awake to flail. Blake withdrew her hand before Sun could slap his over it protectively. "What the...oh." He took in his surroundings and yawned. "Morning Blake."

"Morning Sun!" Ruby chirped.

"Wha...Ruby!" Sun gasped.

"That's me!" Ruby cheered.

"Shit, I thought I was dreaming." Sun chuckled.

"Sun...dress, take her home." Blake ordered.

"Yeah, yeah." Sun yawned again. "Where you stayin' Rubes?"

"Mantle Suites." Ruby replied.

"That shithole?" Sun shook his head.

"It was the cheapest place that didn't look run down." Ruby explained.

"How come you're staying at a hotel anyway?" Sun asked.

"I didn't have much time to plan ahead." Ruby admitted. "I'm gonna' look for an apartment today...do they have any available here?"

"Probably, but...well we've got a spare room-" Sun started.

"Sun." Blake snapped, glaring down at him.

Sun waved his arms. "What? We've got a room we never use, Ruby needs a place to stay. You're good for rent, aren't you?"

"I can pay a little now." Ruby answered. "I don't have much money until my first paycheck...but it's okay, don't worry about me. I can find a place on my own."

"Yeah right." Sun scoffed. "Only reason I found a place was because Blake let me stay."

"And I regret it to this day." Blake grumbled.

"Sure you do, but what you won't regret is letting Ruby live here." Sun insisted.

"I see absolutely nothing proving that." Blake countered.

"I...I won't be any trouble." Ruby promised. "I can keep to myself. Really, I'm used to being in my room alone."

"Humans are always trouble." Blake continued. "Nosebline, bumbling, loud and ignorant-"

"Well that's just racist." Sun charged.

"It's true." Blake persisted.

"Well, if you're so confident you won't have any problem letting Ruby prove you right then, hmm?" Sun smirked smugly.

Blake stared her partner down with a grimace. She wanted to shout. She wanted to storm out. But neither would win her any ground in this situation. Sun was directly challenging her perceptions, and threatening her pride in the process. She could not let that stand. For now she let out a breath, taking in another, and turning her gaze to Ruby, who stiffened in her seat. "You will shower twice a day minimum - after you wake up, when you get home from work, after working out or any vigorous activity. I don't want your scent all over my home, especially from between your legs." Ruby blinked, shocked, but nodded. "No perfumes, no scented deodorant, use only the cleaning supplies I approve. Windows open if you cook, and no curry." Ruby continued to nod. "No loud music, movies or video games. I will hear them, and if you wake me up I will not be merciful." Blake narrowed her eyes. Ruby nodded faster. The Faunus sighed, rubbing her brow. "Get dressed and go get her things. I'll clear out the room."

"Thank you Blake-" Ruby started.

"Whatever." Blake waved her away, stalking off down the hallway.

There was a beat of silence. Ruby blinked, looking to Sun, whose smugness had given way to surprise. "I didn't really think that'd work."

"Sun…" Ruby laughed, running her hands through her hair. "Gods I missed you."

Sun smiled sheepishly, scratching his head. "I missed you too Rubes. How's your head?"

"Sore." Ruby replied.

"You want some aspirin?" Sun offered.

"I'd kill for some." Ruby responded.

"Now you sound like Blake." Sun joked, standing.

"Well, something else we have in common I guess." Ruby chuckled as Sun walked past into the kitchen.

"Seriously though, she only acts scary." Sun insisted. "Plus I kinda' pissed her off because I didn't sleep with her last night...not in a sexual way...you know what I mean." He added, opening a cupboard and pulling free a basked. He rummaged through until he pulled out a bottle of aspirin, tossing it onto the counter where Ruby snatched it up.

Ruby popped out two tablets. "Sorry about that, I get clingy when drunk." She apologized, swallowing the pills. She reached for her glass to wash them down, only to find it empty. Sun quickly filled the glass, and she murmured thanks.

"No harm done." Sun shrugged. "It's like we're making up for all the hugs we missed over the years."

"That's a lot of hugs, like four a day average." Ruby speculated.

Sun leaned against the fridge, arms crossed. "Factor in Yang...oh man, I've got some debt to pay."

"I think I can work out a plan." Ruby joked. "I can be reasonable."

"How does real breakfast sound?" Sun offered.

"Hmm...it's a start." Ruby grinned as she drained the last of her glass.