RWBY Shorts

White Rose

Today is Weiss' birthday. Everybody likes to get presents on their birthday, right? And I know we haven't known each other that long, but maybe if I get her a present… but what do I get her? I mean she's rich, right, and rich people have everything and what do you get someone who has everything and – GAH! I don't know what to do…

Ruby wandered the streets of Vale looking for the perfect present for Weiss. Her eyes wandered from shop to shop, nothing catching her eye. She did already have a present planned, but couldn't exactly afford it with her current funds. Cookies weren't that expensive, but the cost added up quickly.

As Ruby thought and thought and thought, a sign on the street corner caught her eye.

RED LIKE ROSES FLOWER SHOP

LATER

"Hello, dearie," said the woman behind the counter. She was rather heavyset, with a wrinkled face and a smile on her lips, reminding Ruby of an old and kind grandmother. If said grandmother moved boulders for a living. "Looking for something special?"

"Uh, yeah, do you have any roses?"

"Of course. Any color in particular?"

Color? This was important. According to what Jaune had said, each color of rose meant something different. Pink meant "joy", orange meant "fascination"… which was the one for "friendship", again?

"Umm… red, I think."

"I'm afraid you're out of luck, then," said the woman with a sigh. "We grow all of our flowers ourselves, and they take time to grow. My idiot sons managed to plant the white roses instead of the red ones, so the next batch won't be in bloom for another two weeks."

As she said this, she gestured toward the left wall, where all of the roses were divided into groups according to color. Only, the section marked "red" was full of white roses.

The young reaper was only half-listening, entranced by the white flowers. Hmm. A white rose.

MUCH LATER

"Objective complete!" In front of her was a single thorn less white rose tied to a card with red ribbon. Sure, it wasn't as nice as a new dust-powered sheath for Myrtlenaster, but it was the thought that counted, right?

"What are you doing?"

"Gah!" Ruby jumped as Weiss walked into the dorm room. Ruby just managed to hide her present behind her back. "Weiss, when did you get here?! I mean, uh, Weiss, how nice to see you! I thought you were training with Blake."

"We just finished. So, what is that?"

"What is what?"

"What are you hiding? Did you break something?"

"No, Weiss, I was just-"

"Because if you broke something of mine you will be held responsible, and the reparations will be mandatory for-"

Desperate to avoid another lecture, Ruby held out the flower and card in front of her.

"Happy Birthday!"

"…"

"…"

"…Ruby."

"Yes, Weiss?"

"My birthday was three months ago."

"Oh. Sorry."

Weiss rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Why would you think it was my birthday?"

"Well, I saw that card you got in the mail. The one from Atlas."

"Ruby, that card was lost in the mail and got here late. And if you had just asked me, I would have told you."

"I wanted it to be a surprise," she said, hanging her hooded head.

"It's fine. So long as you didn't make a big deal out of it. I'd just like to spend my day quietly."

Behind her, Ren tried to pull Nora back into the closet which was spilling wrapped presents and confetti. Jaune and Pyrrha just gave awkward grin. They were holding a banner with the words "HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEISS" written on it with syrup. Ruby's scroll buzzed in her pocket, telling her that Yang was on her way back with the cake.

"Right, of course."

END