Disclaimer: RWBY and all affiliated characters/titles belong to Rooster Teeth, those wonderful geniuses.

Blake sat through all of Doctor Oobleck's incredibly lengthy discussion on the nature of airborne Grimm and possible dangers of their varying sizes and abilities as quietly and controlled as she could. She was extremely careful in taking very meticulous notes so that Ruby would have something to review from this actually quite important lecture. Blake had never been one to blindly follow authority, obviously, and she understood that sometimes personal matters took precedence over public responsibilities like school or work. However, this was the second class today that Ruby had missed and there was no sign of her showing up any time soon.

It wasn't the missing classes that got to Blake as much as it was the reason. Ruby and Jaune had broken up, that much was evidently true. But hadn't Ruby said they were going to do their best to remain friends? That she and Jaune would try to move past it? So why was she literally hiding from him? Was her plan to lock herself in the dorm for the rest of the year? No, that was unacceptable. They had worked as a team to get Blake to stop running away from her problems, so now it was Blake's turn to help one of them, to help Ruby. She decided some time between the dangers of flocks of baby Nevermores and the obvious threats that Griffons posed that she would talk to Ruby between classes. Hopefully, she would finish quickly enough that she actually came to their third class with her.

"You're looking rather focused." Yang leaned over to Blake and whispered. She had just been responsible for a botched match in the last class, well Nora was really responsible but still, and she was talking again?

"I'm just worried about Ruby." Blake continued to take notes, not letting herself be distracted.

"Ahh, yeah, makes sense." Blake turned in time to catch the mischievous smirk on Yang's face, "I wouldn't be though. I bet she'll show up next class as happy as ever." Yang grinned confidently at Blake and she felt her own resolve waiver. Should she give Ruby space? Ruby had never shown an inability to recover from trauma before and she had dealt with much worse in her life than breaking up with Jaune, she had lost her mother for Oum's sake. Was Blake assuming too much in thinking that Ruby needed her help?

"I guess so yeah." Blake refocused herself on taking notes for their bubbly little team leader. Yang sighed and leaned back in her chair, paying attention but taking notes of any kind herself. The least Blake could do was ensure that Ruby's missed class time did not affect her scholastic performance overly much. The combat classes and technical weapons classes she wasn't worried about. Ruby was as good as it got when it came to Crescent Rose, but classes like this and Professor Port's lecture course… she was barely any good at those when she did attend.

The rest of the lecture went as usual. Nora managed not to interrupt too many times and Dr. Oobleck even used Team RWBY's encounter with an airship sized Nevermore as an example on how to properly use coordinated team work against such an overwhelming opponent. That made Blake happy. The fight with the Nevermore was their very first action as a team and their performances that day had helped cement the other three girls as reliable team mates in her eyes. Also, Ruby's unwavering leadership and ability to instantly take charge of a team with such varying abilities had most likely been a huge deciding factor in her placement as leader of RWBY, a position Blake in no way envied. As class broke up and they all packed their things away Blake turned to her teammates.

"Any word from Ruby?" She looked nervously between the two of them. She hadn't received a message from her, but Yang was her sister and Weiss was her partner. Of course she would contact one of them first. Blake was a teammate at best, a roommate and former White Fang member at worst.

"No, she hasn't messaged me." Weiss never even looked up from her bags as she packed her many folders and papers away.

"Nope, nothin' yet." Yang leaned back in her chair and double checked her scroll to be sure, single folder tucked under her arm. Yang wasn't the type to focus very much on her studies but Blake still found it impressive that she didn't even bring a bag.

Blake lowered her eyes to the floor in thought. She really wanted to go check on Ruby but she probably wouldn't make it to class in time if she went all the way to the dorms. Why hadn't she realized that when she made her plan to go check on her? She really wasn't thinking straight about all of this so she took a moment to collect herself. She didn't want to go there and find that Ruby had already left, because then she would be the one missing class for no reason. It seemed equally as mortifying to message her, expressing her concern, and have Ruby reply that she was already headed to class and just hadn't felt up to the first two. So, Blake decided to trust Yang and head to their last shared class as a group.

Professor Port was leaning on the pedestal that held a large golden bust of himself and speaking with several other students when Teams RWBY and JNPR arrived for class. They arranged themselves just as they had the previous class, with Yang and Nora at the center and both sets of partners extending outward from there with Jaune at one end and the empty seat for Ruby at the far opposite. Blake glanced nervously about the room ,searching for any sign of their leader but found none. No high pitched giggles, no rushing of wind or flutter of rose petals. She sighed and turned to her partner.

"Do you think we should message her and ask what's up?" Yang turned from planning her salon day with Nora to answer Blake.

"Nah, with how boring Port's class is. Do you think she was really that motivated to come?" Yang laughed as if that would be enough to calm Blake's anxieties on the matter and returned to Nora. Blake looked down at her lap and fiddled with the edge of her book as she thought. If she left now she might as well miss class along with Ruby. Surely Weiss's notes would be sufficient to guide she and Ruby through Port's discussion but did she want to rely on Weiss in that way? Weiss was Ruby's partner after all, not hers.

"Weiss, if I go check on Ruby can we borrow your notes?" Blake turned hesitantly to Weiss who was already checking through her immaculate planner and preparing her overly large notebook for the class. She met Blake's expectant gaze with a curious one.

"Yeah I guess. But, you're really that concerned?" Weiss cocked her head to one side, letting her long, white ponytail fall over her shoulder.

"Uhh, yeah. I mean she's our team leader and everything right?" Blake was really stunned how unconcerned her other two teammates seemed to be.

"I guess, but she sort of deals with this on her own." Weiss shrugged her shoulders, "If you really think you should then yes, I will allow you to borrow my notes afterwards." Weiss begin writing for a moment and then stopped and turned to Blake, "What are you waiting for, go." Blake realized she hadn't started moving yet and quickly began packing up her things to leave, just as she scooted her chair back to leave their Professor began speaking.

"Good morning everyone. I know you are all dying to hear the end of the story I left off of at the end of last class so let me start without further ado." Port cleared his throat and jumped directly into another of his tales of bravery and valor without any hesitation, starting off basically where the bell had stopped him on the previous Friday. Blake sullenly tucked her chair back in and began unpacking her supplies to try her best to take meaningful notes for Ruby. The last thing she wanted to do now was draw attention to their team, and Ruby's absence, by leaving once the Professor had already started lecturing.

"She'll be fine Blake," Weiss whispered hoarsely from her spot at Blake's side, "Stop fretting about it so much. The last thing we need is both of you missing class because of that blonde headed idiot." Weiss cast a scornful glance down the row of students. "Jaune, I mean Jaune." she needlessly clarified and hurriedly returned to taking notes. What she was taking notes on Blake couldn't imagine, but her words helped reassure Blake all the same. She would make it through this class period and then use the lunch hour to go check on Ruby, maybe even grab her a cookie or two from the cafeteria to help cheer her up.

Professor Port actually managed to make it into a discussion on varied Grimm biology during their course that day. He covered some of the more distinct differences between average Grimm and their Alpha counterparts, including the rather terrifying Alpha Nevermores. Blake shuddered as she realized the inordinate focus on Nevermores today's lectures had taken. Fighting airborne enemies was terrifying to say the least and she sincerely hoped they didn't have to again any time soon. She was incredibly glad that she had stayed for class though and she would be sure to tell Ruby that she had missed possibly a once in a lifetime event, Port actually lecturing on the topic he was supposed to be teaching them and not just reciting stories. They packed up their items yet again and made to leave the classroom.

"I'm gonna go check on Ruby." Blake announced to the remaining half of her team. Yang went to protest but she cut her off, "If you're right and she's fine then I'll just bring her to lunch with me. I'm just worried."

"I was gonna say you might wanna take her a cookie or something, a peace offering ya know?" Yang said smugly once Blake had finished, happy to have subverted her attempt to predict what she would say. Blake smiled at her partner and trotted off for the cafeteria waving off her shoulder as she left. If she hurried she should be able to make it to the cafeteria before the lines all got too long.

She jogged over to the cafeteria and was glad to see that there were almost no students at the bakery. She made her way there, grabbed a modestly sized plate of cookies, two glasses of milk and headed for the exit, just to be stopped by a stern looking Professor Goodwitch.

"Now Blake, you know that the cafeteria is for lunch. Where would you be going with that?" Professor Goodwitch indicated the plate of milk and cookies with a rigid point of her riding crop.

"I was taking it to Ruby. She's still not feeling well." Blake tried to sound as convincing as possible, it was the truth after all.

"And the best food for recovering from illness is chocolate chip cookies?" The Professor asked incredulously.

"Well yeah, I mean not usually of course. But…" Blake trailed off, not wanting to contradict her professor so openly. "Have you met Ruby Professor? She doesn't recover like normal people." Blake laughed nervously, hoping against all rational thought that Professor Goodwitch would let her by.

"I see. Well if it will get her to come back to class then go ahead. We can't have team leaders missing out on courses while the rest of their team attends." Professor Goodwitch stepped to the side and allowed Blake to pass.

"Thank you, I'll make sure she's in class." Blake nodded her head in gratitude and hurried off towards the dorms. She saw Yang, Weiss and Team JNPR headed in as she left and would have waved had her hands not been full with Ruby's favorite comfort foods. Now that she was taking action, had a plan and somehow even managed to survive an encounter with Professor Goodwitch she was feeling rather good about this entire idea. Blake added a little more speed to her trot, wanting to reach Ruby as quickly as possible, but was still careful not to spill the cookies and milk everywhere. She reached the dorm and glanced up at their window. The big tree blocked most of it from this angle but the drawn curtains did an even better job. Hopefully Ruby had the light on and wasn't just sitting in the dark. Blake eased the door open with her waist and made her way up the steps to their door.

"Ruby?" Blake called out cautiously. It felt strange somehow, to be in the dorms in the middle of the day like this. There was no response and after a moment she called out again, "Ruby." She called louder this time and kicked at the door with her foot since her hands were otherwise occupied. Again there was no response, perhaps she wasn't in the room after all. Blake had to know for sure, so she turned around, set the tray down on the floor and fished her scroll out of her bag. She turned to get up but heard the door click open. "Oh hey Ruby, you are in there." Blake set her scroll on the tray and picked it up as she turned.

Ruby was there alright but what Blake saw was not encouraging at all. Her eyes were red and she looked like she had been crying. The lights were most definitely off and the curtains drawn tightly enough that the only light in the room was what bled through the curtains fabric. This left the entire dorm soaked in a muted reddish orange.

"Hey Blake," Ruby sniffled and rubbed at her runny nose. She sounded tired.

"Ruby, come here, come inside." Blake pushed the younger girl inside with the edge of the tray and closed the door behind them. Once the door was shut Blake realized just how dark their room was like this. She was certain that Ruby couldn't see very well, what without having Faunus eyes or anything. Blake set the tray of cookies down on the bookcase by the window and pulled Ruby over to her bunk. She sat them down on the edge and pulled Ruby's head against her shoulder in a gentle embrace

What had happened since this morning? When they all got up Ruby had showered and started to dress with the rest of them but then said she didn't quite feel up to sparring and would meet them in Oobleck's class. Blake figured she had spent the morning reading or something to try and get a little better hold of herself. When she didn't show for Oobleck's she started to worry more and even more so after Port's but she never expected this. Ruby appeared to have been crying all morning. Her school uniform was discarded on Weiss's bunk and she was wearing her pajamas and her hood. Blake glanced up and saw that her bed was also a mess, she should have come to check on her sooner.

"I'm sorry I didn't come to class," Ruby was quiet and she sounded guilty. Her voice was thick with emotion and her throat sounded raw like she hadn't just been crying but sobbing.

"No, no that's fine." Blake petted Ruby's head with her free hand and readjusted slightly on the bed. She couldn't stand to see Ruby this sad. She had helped her gather the courage to wind up in a relationship with Jaune so she felt at least somehow responsible for how she was now. "What's wrong though? You weren't like this yesterday."

Ruby was silent in response. Blake waited much longer than it should have taken Ruby to respond before speaking back up. She didn't want to make it feel like she was prying but sitting there in the dark with Ruby was even less comfortable than broaching her silence was.

"I mean, I thought you and Jaune's break up wasn't that bad right?" Blake started in quietly, she still felt a little uncomfortable being so direct. But, Blake wanted desperately for Ruby to meet her eyes so she could see what she was thinking. Ruby just kept looking at the floor.

Another stretch of silence was all Blake got. This was becoming unbearable and Blake started to think that perhaps Weiss had been right and Ruby would handle this better alone. She shifted uncomfortably, pulling away from Ruby slightly, suddenly feeling as if she was stifling the other girl.

"You broke up with him and you made up your mind and everything. So what's going on?" It was so unlike Ruby to not say anything. Usually the issue was getting her to be quiet for more than a few seconds at a time.

"Is it weird that I'm so young?" Ruby sniffled and refused to lift her eyes from the floor.

"What?" Blake wasn't sure that she hadn't missed something.

"Do you think it's weird that I'm so much younger than everyone else?" Ruby lifted her knees up to her chin and buried her face in her legs.

"No, not really." Blake pulled back a little further but left her hand on Ruby's back. Her cloak wasn't as soft as Blake thought it would be. It was actually rather coarse and rough under her hand. "You fight better than most of the students. You're even a leader Ruby, of course you should be here."

"No, I don't mean Huntress stuff. I mean like with everyone else. I'm so much younger than you and Weiss and everyone. They all probably think I'm just a little girl." Ruby finally looked at Blake, but, she wasn't crying again. She looked drained, like she was done crying.

"I don't think anyone sees you that way." Blake could understand Ruby feeling unsure about her age but that still didn't quite explain this reaction. "I know I don't."

"What if they do though? What if Jaune was the only one who didn't care and I messed that up?" Ruby's head fell back into her legs and realization dawned on Blake.

"Oh that's not true Ruby. Don't worry about that at all." Blake wanted to hug her again but realized that right now, when she felt like she was too young for everyone, that comforting her like a child might not be the best thing. She wanted her to know that there were other people out there that were interested in Ruby. She knew that for certain. "You'll find someone else, I'm sure of it."

"JNPR probably thinks I was like teasing Jaune or something don't they?" Ruby's shoulders slumped and Blake could see that without someone to talk to she had just been wallowing in all of this pity and self-doubt all day. Being alone is not what she needed right now and the fact that Blake had been right to come help her gave her a boost of confidence.

"Actually, they were really worried about you. Nora was even trying to get Yang to take you out dancing with them." Blake tried to laugh but the sound fell awkwardly into the still room's air. "Professor Goodwitch let me bring cookies and milk out of the cafeteria for you and I took notes in all our classes so you wouldn't fall behind. Everyone just wants you to be happy and crazy and Ruby again." Blake looped a single finger under Ruby's chin and lifted her eyes out of her lap. "It's only been one day and we all really miss you."

Ruby fell forward onto Blake and hugged her hard. Blake was thrown off by the suddenness of her gesture but hugged her back as soon as she recovered. They sat there for a moment, arms wrapped firmly around each other in the darkness. Blake felt comfortable holding Ruby and leaned down to rest her cheek against the top of Ruby's head.

"So do you want some cookies? Because I did have to get them past Goodwitch and there's no way I can eat them all myself." Blake asked quietly. Ruby pulled back and wiped at her nose one last time before giving Blake a small, sheepish smile.

"I think a cookie or two would really help." Ruby smiled out from behind her tear stained eyes and puffy cheeks, through her reddened face and hours of crying and it shined as bright as ever. Blake turned to the book case and grabbed the tray before she could be caught staring and offered it back to Ruby.

"Yeah, or five." Blake laughed as Ruby took a small handful of cookies all at once. Ruby giggled and put the first in her mouth. She had what looked to Blake like a rather difficult and practiced method of holding the individual cookies in between her fingers so she could take a bunch and still eat them one at a time and savor their flavor. Three cookies in Ruby took a second to drink some milk and clear her throat. Blake was staring purposefully at the curtain covered window to avoid staring at Ruby and was caught off guard when the younger girl cleared her throat.

"Blake?" Ruby was quiet again and Blake spun her head back around in worry. She was relieved to see that Ruby was still smiling and happy, but nervous for some reason. "Thank you. For coming to help me and everything."

"Of course Ruby. We're teammates and that's what-" Blake began to write off the compliment.

"No I mean. Look Yang didn't come. Weiss didn't come." Ruby gestured around at the empty room. "I didn't want you guys to know how much this all got to me so I really tried to hide it. But you still knew and you came for me."

"Really, they were worried too. I just couldn't help myself I guess." Blake was grateful for the darkness because it was helping hide the incredible blush she knew she must be sporting. She had just been worried about Ruby and wanted to come check on her. Granted her concerns had been completely justified but she still felt like she in no way deserved this type of praise.

"You're the best Blake." Ruby leaned forward and gave her another hug but she tipped Blake's glass of milk over and spilled it all over Blake's legs and the bed. Blake jumped up at the sudden cold sensation running down her thighs and let out a startled eep. "Oh Blake, sorry, sorry sorry." There was a flurry of rose petals as Ruby darted into the bathroom and back out again carrying one of their burnt orange Beacon Academy issued towels. Without hesitation Ruby fell to her knees and began dabbing at the milk on Blake's skirt and legs. "Ohh Blake I'm so sorry. I was just trying to say thank you and ahhh," Ruby was incredibly flustered as she tried to mop up the milk.

"It's okay," Blake couldn't help but laugh as she tried to push the little brunette away from her legs. The praise and the subsequent milk spilling was embarrassing enough, the last thing she needed right now was for Ruby to be feeling all over her legs like that. Blake gratefully took the towel from Ruby and began drying her own legs. "You know though, I think it's hopeless. I'm gonna have to change." Blake looked down at the milk splatters all over her lower half. It wouldn't stain or anything but she certainly couldn't go out like this.

"It's just so dark in here Blake I'm sorry." Ruby got up sullenly and moved over to the light switch. She flipped it up and sighed in relief. "That's better."

"You know how you can make it up to me?" Blake looked up from her soiled skirt to meet Ruby's now sparkling silver eyes. "You go wash your face and change and I'll change and we can go to class. All the boring classes are over and you don't have any more classes with Jaune today so-" Blake began to rattle off all the reasons she could think of that Ruby should get up and out of the room but her team leader cut her off.

"Okay," Ruby said more cheerfully than Blake expected, "But only because you asked." Ruby walked over to Weiss's bed and scooped up her clothes from that morning. She headed to the bathroom and closed the door. Blake heard the sound of the sink starting to run and sighed in relief. Now if she could just change out of her clothes and get Ruby to go then this would all have been a success. She kicked off her shoes and worked her leggings and skirt off before leaning over to grab a fresh outfit from her dresser.

Blake heard the click of the bathroom door and jumped in surprise, how had Ruby washed her face and changed that fast? She held her skirt over herself to try and conserve at least a bit of her modesty and turned but the door was shut. She must have just overheard one of the cabinets while Ruby was grabbing a washcloth or something. Her Faunus hearing was incredibly helpful at times, but served to make her very jumpy at others. She glanced over at the window but it was still curtained and closed as well. They weren't on the first floor, but that didn't stop Blake from worrying about someone looking in their window.

She finished changing and set about taking the milk covered blanket off of her bed. In all honesty it had only gotten on the side a little but she had clean ones so it couldn't hurt to change it. She could not imagine Weiss's reaction if she found out that she was sleeping in blankets that milk had been spilt on. Weiss changed her sheets at least once a week as it was. Blake balled the dirty blanket up in the corner and unfurled a new one. She was just smoothing out one edge when Ruby emerged from the bathroom, looking fresh and clean but rather embarrassed as she shuffled across the dorm to Blake's side.

"Blake, you need to touch my ears." Ruby offered one side of her head and apparently her ear to Blake. Blake craned her head around the side, looking for some cut or sore.

"Why? Is something wrong with it?" Blake looked and looked but even with the lights on now she couldn't see anything the matter with Ruby's ear.

"No it's so we'll be even." Ruby's face went flush with embarrassment and she sort of head butted Blake in the shoulder, trying to offer her ear again. Blaek thought for just a moment before her meaning dawned on her, "I saw your butt Blake so you have to touch my ears." Ruby nearly shouted and threw her hands over her face to hide her bright red blush. Blake reached down nervously and rubbed Ruby's ear lobe between her thumb and forefinger.

"Uhh there you go Ruby."

A/N - Hopefully you remember that chapter otherwise that joke is gonna fall on pretty deaf ears. Ahh well. Blake and Ruby got some more cookie based bonding time and now they are officially even as they are one butt view and one ear touch each.

Hopefully the Fic is starting to take a turn here towards more what you might want. I know the break-up was rough, but break-ups are rough. The hardship there will make any eventual pay off even better won't it? I'd hope so.

Thanks so much for reading! Please let me know what you think as you read. It's exciting to hear from you.

-Zach