Chapter 22

"So what did you want to get?" Yang asked as she walked down the street with Blake and Ruby.

"I wanted to get Weiss a hoodie like mine." Ruby replied. "I'm thinking white or blue."

"Why?" Blake asked. "She's got plenty of coats."

"Well, she's borrowed mine a few times." Ruby explained. "She says it's really comfortable and warm."

"Damnit Weiss, oldest trick in the book." Yang grumbled under her breath.

"What was that?" Blake asked, her ears perking up.

"Uh...nothing." Yang sighed. "Nothing at all."

"Come on, we don't have much time!" Ruby urged.

"Ruby, they don't close for over an hour." Yang observed.

"Yeah, but we need time to shop!" Ruby declared. "I hate being rushed."

Blake chuckled. "So you're rushing us instead."

Pyrrha returned home to find Weiss seemingly asleep on the couch. An open bottle of wine sat on the coffee table, and a half-empty glass was in her hand. Pyrrha dropped her bag on the floor, the sound causing Weiss to wake with a start. She looked around before spotting Pyrrha and freezing like a deer in the headlights. "O-oh Pyrrha." Weiss gasped. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't hear you." She stood, placing her glass on the table before straightening her clothes. After checking the everything was in order she looked up at Pyrrha with a plastered-on smile. "How was your day?"

"Weiss, are you okay?" Pyrrha asked.

"I'm fine." Weiss lied. "I'm sorry for drinking your wine. I'll buy several bottles the next time we go out."

"Weiss, you've been crying." Pyrrha observed.

"What, no...I…" Weiss struggled. She reached her hand up to touch beneath her eye, and her fingers came back slightly damp. "Please don't tell them."

"Weiss…" Pyrrha sighed.

"Please, I don't want them to worry." Weiss begged. "I can handle myself. T-today was just one of my bad days."

"Weiss, drinking alone isn't a healthy way to deal with depression." Pyrrha advised.

Weiss smiled glumly, then sat back down. "Then will you join me?" She asked.

Pyrrha sighed and ran her hands through her hair. She took a seat beside Weiss on the couch. Weiss offered her glass and Pyrrha took a sip. "Do you do this often?" Pyrrha asked.

"No, usually I go to Neon...she makes me feel better." Weiss replied. "She takes my mind off everything."

"Neon?" Pyrrha inquired.

"My...friend...I...we...I use her Pyrrha." Weiss groaned.

"What do you mean?" Pyrrha pressed.

"I use her to escape, to hide." Weiss explained. "When I'm with her I don't think about them. When I'm with her, nothing else matters, nothing exists but us. But she's not here Pyrrha. She's not here and I can't escape...I've tried." Weiss gestured toward the bottle.

"By them you mean…" Pyrrha started.

Weiss bowed her head, wrapping her arms around herself. "I keep hoping, wishing my feelings will fade." She wept. "But then Ruby will do something silly, and with each passing day I grow less irritated and more amused. Blake will hold her, or kiss her, and I'll picture myself in her arms, her lips on my skin, and it's selfish. They love each other, they belong to each other, and all I can do is be happy and smile for them, when all I want to do is hold them and love them, completely and utterly...it's not fair...not on them, not on me." Weiss sniffled, wiping her eyes

Pyrrha placed the empty glass on the table and grabbed the bottle to refill it. "I know exactly how you feel." She declared, her voice monotone, utterly devoid of emotion. "I spend every day here, dedicating myself to helping Yang. She's in a bad place. She refuses to show it, she puts on a happy face, but it's all a lie." She drank deeply from the glass, consuming half its contents. "She's falling apart Weiss, keeps throwing herself at people she thinks can make her feel whole again. First it was a one night stand, then one of her fucking exes. The one night stand left without so much as a note and her ex flat out rejected her. And who's left to pick up the pieces?" Pyrrha downed the rest of the glass. "Me. I am here for her. Everyone else has their own lives, their own loves, but me? I dedicate myself to Yang because I love her, and she doesn't see me as more than a friend. And there she is, frigging herself in the next room for me to hear, and now that image is stuck in my head. And she teases me about it! Ugh!"

Pyrrha reached for the bottle but Weiss already had it, taking a long swig directly from it. She handed it to Pyrrha, who took an even longer one. "I don't know how she can't see you Pyrrha." Weiss encouraged. "You're a goddess, every last inch of you!"

"I...I...yeah, yeah I am." Pyrrha declared. "I'm a goddess! A Mistrali goddess of...of sexiness!"

Weiss giggled. "And your breasts are amazing." She observed. "They're huge!"

"You really think so?" Pyrrha asked.

"Oh yeah." Weiss confirmed. "Much bigger than mine. I've got these...ugh...bug bites. They don't make padded bras big enough to make up for this nonsense."

"Oh, don't be so hard on yourself." Pyrrha said. "I have never met someone with such perfect posture, and your hair is divine. I could never get mine so smooth!"

"No one ever compliments my hair!" Weiss exclaimed. "They're always like 'you're beautiful.' No shit I'm beautiful! I'm Weiss fucking Schnee! What about me is beautiful, hmm? Or are you too busy trying to find my breasts to examine the rest of me?! At least Neon appreciates it. The way she nuzzles it and strokes it just perfectly, God I love having fingers in my hair."

Pyrrha reached over and threaded her fingers through Weiss' hair, running down its length. "Like this?" She asked.

Weiss laid her head back, eyes shut, jaw lulling open. "Yeeaaahhh…" She sighed. Pyrrha put the now empty bottle back on the table, nearly dropping it in the process. She moved her now free hand to join her other in stroking Weiss' hair. "God Pyrrha, please don't stop."

Weiss leaned over, laying her head across Pyrrha's shoulder, breathing heavily as Pyrrha's nails trailed across her scalp. Pyrrha felt Weiss' hot breath on her neck, before a wetness pressed against it. She jerked back, meeting Weiss' unfocused gaze and sleepy smile. Weiss leaned forward and their lips met, Weiss' kiss slightly sloppy. Pyrrha found herself kissing back. Weiss slipped into Pyrrha's lap, Pyrrha's arms settling on her hips, Weiss' hand cupping Pyrrha's face as the repeated kisses became more passionate.

Weiss' lips moved from Pyrrha's down to her jaw, before settling on her neck. Pyrrha moaned breathlessly. Then Weiss bit Pyrrha, eliciting a pained yelp. Both jerked back, finding themselves staring at one another again. The sudden rush had sobered them up slightly, and the weight of what they were doing sank in. Weiss' breath hitched. "I-I'm so sorry Pyrrha…" Weiss stammered. "I'm so…"

Weiss collapsed, burying her face in Pyrrha's shoulder and sobbing. Pyrrha felt the sting of tears behind her own eyes, and wrapped Weiss in a hug, rubbing soothing circles on her back. "It's okay Weiss, it's okay."

After a spending a good hour in the shop, picking out gifts for Winter in addition to Weiss, Ruby, Blake and Yang decided to go to dinner. Ruby drove them to a small restaurant on the outskirts of town. It was a little early for dinner, and the place was mostly empty. The trio seated themselves and almost immediately a waitress arrived to drop off the menus. "Oh, your mother was in earlier today." The waitress said when she saw Ruby and Yang.

"That's...I'm not even surprised." Ruby laughed. The waitress handed out the menus and left to give them time to decide on their orders. Ruby put her menu down and stood. "I have to use the little girl's room."

"You want your usual?" Yang asked.

"Yep." Ruby confirmed as she headed toward the restrooms.

Yang went back to the menu after Ruby departed. She glanced up to see Blake looking at her across the table. "Is there something on my face?" Yang asked.

"No I...I was just expecting, you know, the whole 'don't hurt Ruby or I'll kill you' spiel." Blake explained.

"If you hurt Ruby you'll kill yourself out of guilt." Yang observed.

"This is true." Blake confirmed. "I guess I was hoping for the whole big sister experience. Ruby told me you were protective."

"I'd say I'm beyond the point of being able to protect anyone." Yang sighed. "I could talk a big game, but who am I kidding?"

"Yang...you're not…" Blake started.

"Save it." Yang cut her off. "Just...just take care of Ruby for me. God knows I can't. And even if Summer could be there, she's too busy taking care of me to worry about Ruby. I haven't known you for long, but I have to trust you. There's no alternative."

"I'll do everything I can to keep her safe." Blake promised. "I won't fail her again."

"Again?" Yang asked. "You mean that whole choking her out while you fucked? Nah, don't worry about that."

"S-she told you about that?" Blake gasped.

"She tells me about everything." Yang smirked. "Like how you feel powerful when you're using a strap-on." Blake stared at Yang in shock, her mouth agape.

"You're not threatening my girlfriend, are you?" Ruby accused.

"No, we're just talking about your kinks." Yang replied. "And how you told me hers."

Blake's gaze snapped to Ruby, a frown overtaking her face. "What?" Ruby asked. "You told Winter about me."

"I suppose that's fair." Blake grumbled.

Pyrrha stepped out of the spare bedroom and into the hallway. She was immediately met by Yang, who had just returned from her day out with Ruby and Blake. "Hey Pyrrha, where's Weiss?" Yang asked.

"We took a hike in the forest." Pyrrha replied. "She's been asleep for some time."

"She okay?" Yang asked.

"Yes, if a little low on stamina." Pyrrha answered. "I should go check on her, see if she needs anything."

"I can do it." Yang offered.

"No, you can go have a shower." Pyrrha suggested, holding her nose. "What have you been doing all day?"

"I gave Ruby some piggyback rides." Yang shrugged. "Sue me."

"Shower, now." Pyrrha demanded. Yang rolled her eyes and headed for the bathroom, leaving Pyrrha to check on Weiss. She gently opened the door, peeking inside to see Weiss lying on her side on the bed. "Weiss?"

"Pyrrha?" Weiss responded.

Pyrrha slipped into the room and shut the door behind her. She made her way to Weiss, who sat up as Pyrrha sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?" Pyrrha asked. "Did you rest well?"

"A little, but not really." Weiss replied. "Pyrrha…"

"It's okay Weiss." Pyrrha said. "I understand."

"But I tried to…" Weiss protested.

"We were both drinking." Pyrrha cut her off. "You tried to seek comfort in my arms, and I reciprocated, initiated even."

"You were just being kind Pyrrha." Weiss sighed. "It's no excuse for me to throw myself at you like that, and I apologize."

"It was a very intimate gesture, but if it helps, I accept your apology, and offer one of my own." Pyrrha declared. "I should have been more responsible. Instead I allowed myself to lose control, and caused you pain in the process."

"I...I'll accept your apology on one condition." Weiss offered.

"Name it." Pyrrha nodded.

"Private shopping trip tomorrow." Weiss said. "Just you and me. No holds barred."

"Sure." Pyrrha laughed. "That sounds acceptable."

"Good...uh...Pyrrha, have you talked to anyone?" Weiss asked.

"Just Yang, why?" Pyrrha asked.

Weiss groaned and hid her face in her hands. "I left a hickey on your neck."

The next day Summer, Ruby and Blake slept in while Weiss and Pyrrha - who had the day off - went out for their promised shopping trip. That left Yang and Winter awake but careful not to cause a racket that would rouse the others. Winter elected to read in her room, but Yang had nothing worthwhile to do. In the end she decided to have a chat with Winter. Yang approached the door and gave it two gentle knocks.

"Yes?" Winter called from inside.

"Hey Winter, can we talk?" Yang asked.

"Of course Yang." Winter replied. "Come in."

Yang slipped in and closed the door behind her. She walked over and sat on the bed beside Winter. "I wanted to ask how Ruby settled in." Yang explained. "The others won't tell me much. I figured you might know more."

Winter sighed and closed her tablet, placing it on the bedside table. "From what I was told, she was quite distraught at first." Winter said. "However, Blake took it upon herself to watch over Ruby, and once you woke from your coma her spirits greatly improved. Their relationship blossomed into the one you see today."

"So...she wasn't sad for long?" Yang asked.

"No, Blake did her best to ensure that." Winter replied.

"Good, what about Weiss?" Yang smiled.

"It was Weiss who asked Blake for help with your sister." Winter explained. "She was worried, and afraid of making things worse."

"She's not that bad." Yang shrugged.

"Weiss has always been hard on herself." Winter noted. "And seeing as she did snap at Ruby when they first met, she was rightfully paranoid."

"She pulled through in the end." Yang said.

"Weiss is a very loving, caring person." Winter declared. "She just has trouble expressing it."

"Maybe Ruby can help with that." Yang suggested. "She's always been good at getting through to people, and Weiss...well if Ruby wanted, she could wrap Weiss around her finger."

"Fingers even." Winter smirked.

"Oh God Winter, that's terrible." Yang groaned.

"Terrible but true." Winter said.

"Speaking of which, heard my mom kicked your ass." Yang smiled.

"God, it was like being hit by a train." Winter laughed.

"What made you think fighting her was a good idea?" Yang asked.

"Well, maybe I was trying to show off a little." Winter admitted.

"I knew it." Yang grinned.

"Shush you." Winter scoffed.

"And it worked out so well for you." Yang teased.

"I was very confused." Winter shook her head.

"At least she didn't leave any marks...or broken bones." Yang observed.

"Well, she left a sizable mark on my ego." Winter groaned.

"Ah, those fade." Yang encouraged. "I'm still waiting for my mark to fade. It's not working out though." She wiggled her stump for emphasis.

"I take it your recovery has been difficult?" Winter inquired.

"It healed pretty fast." Yang sighed. "But it's hard to get over losing a part of yourself, you know?"

"I do actually." Winter declared.

"Really?" Yang asked skeptically.

"The man who taught me to defend myself was a retired Atlesian General, James Ironwood." Winter explained. "His convoy was hit by an IED attack, resulting in the loss of his right arm and leg, as well as a portion of his torso."

"Holy shit…" Yang gasped.

"Fortunately for him, the military funded his recover, including extensive prosthetics." Winter continued. "Looking at him in full uniform, you could hardly tell he was any different, bar a neural interface above his brow."

"So he's what...half robot?" Yang asked.

"Oh, I'm telling him you said that." Winter laughed. "He'll find it amusing. But essentially yes, he is technically a cyborg. What about you, have you considered a prosthetic?"

"They prepped me...but I turned it down." Yang shook her head. "With our money, it wouldn't have been much better than a doll arm. But that's not even the point. A prosthetic is a prosthetic, no matter how advanced, it wouldn't be me. I would just be playing dress-up, pretending I was normal again."

"James said he faced a similar issue, and apparently it's fairly common." Winter noted. "People think prosthetics are a simple thing, but trauma doesn't leave a person thinking rationally, especially when it's as serious as dismemberment. I respect your decision Yang, and I hope your recovery is a smooth one."

Yang blinked back tears, smiling. "Thank you Winter, no one has been so understanding before." She wept. "N-not that they don't mean well, but…"

"They lack your perspective, and only want what they think is best for you." Winter nodded. "I understand."

Yang wiped her eyes. "So, you and Summer…" She started.

"I said shush." Winter cut her off, eliciting a laugh.

A little later, Blake carried a still half-asleep Ruby out of the bedroom and set her down in a chair at the kitchen table. As Ruby dozed, Blake began mixing a batch of pancakes, calling the others to join them. Yang and Winter took seats at the table with Ruby while Summer joined Blake in cooking. Together they mixed and cooked enough pancakes to feed twice their number, but with the voracious appetites displayed by Yang and Ruby, it turned out to be just enough. After thanking Blake and Summer for the meal, Yang and Ruby - now full of energy in addition to food - decided to take a walk through the forest to burn off some of the calories they had just consumed. Winter offered to help in washing the dishes, but Blake and Summer waved her off and she decided to shower instead.

"Ruby never told me you could cook." Summer noted.

"I haven't had the chance to show her." Blake explained. "But after seeing her face this morning, I think I should cook more often."

"You take good care of her." Summer observed.

"I try my best, Miss Rose." Blake declared.

"Please, call me Summer." She requested. "I'm sorry we haven't talked much since you arrived. I've been meaning to, but I've been talking to Winter so much and she's just...so…"

"Interesting?" Blake finished for her.

"Yeah, it's refreshing, talking to someone new." Summer confirmed. "She's a lovely woman. I'm so grateful she brought you all here. I've missed Ruby, we've all missed Ruby, and it's lovely to finally meet the woman who stole her heart."

"I promise to take good care of is Miss Ro…" Blake started.

"Summer." She corrected.

"Summer...Ruby means the world to me." Blake declared. "The way she makes me feel, it's...I...I will cherish her love for the rest of my life is she allows me."

Summer pulled Blake into a hug that was returned. "I trust you Blake." Summer said. "Ruby knows how to pick 'em. But I'd still like to know more. Ruby says you were adopted by Winter. What about before then?"

"I...I won't lie to you...Summer." Blake struggled. "Before I met Winter and Weiss, I was in a bad way. I'd made choices, bad choices, and I paid for them dearly." She backed away from Summer, pulling down the collar of her shirt enough to show the top of her scar. Summer's eyes bulged at the sight of the angry gash. "I love Ruby with all my heart. If...if you ask...if you want to know...you…"

Summer pulled Blake back in with a tighter embrace this time. "I won't ask, and you don't have to tell." Summer declared. "But should you choose to, we won't judge you, no matter what comes out."

"T-thank you." Blake stuttered. She and Summer held one another for a time as Blake composed herself. They heard Winter leaving the bathroom post-shower, then re-enter the bedroom. "So, you and Winter…"

"Um…" Summer stalled.

"You look good together." Blake observed.

"Blake I...mmhmph…" Summer struggled.

"Summer…" Blake said.

Summer pulled away, leaning against the kitchen counter and crossing her arms. "I've never really been sure of myself Blake." She admitted.

"What's there to not be sure about?" Blake asked.

"When I was young, Raven was deeply in love with me." Summer sighed. "We even had a relationship together...but I never really shared her feelings. It hurt her Blake, it still hurts her. I just always felt I was straight. But Winter makes me feel...she makes me feel different, and I don't know how to handle it. I'm just not sure what to do. W-what if I'm just confused? I-I don't want to suddenly change my mind, like women and hurt Raven even more. I love her, I'm just not in love with her."

"I think you should do what makes you happiest Summer." Blake suggested. "You can't live for others your entire life. You can't make everyone happy, and sometimes your own happiness has to take precedence."

Summer remained silent, chewing on her lip, until the pair heard the bedroom door open, followed by approaching footsteps. They hastily returned to work before Winter entered the kitchen. "Sorry if I took too long." Winter apologized. "I'm used to my own shower. I hope I didn't use all the hot water."

"It should be fine." Summer shrugged. "Yang might shower when she gets back, but Ruby's usually fine being sweaty."

"Oh God." Blake groaned.

"What?" Summer asked. Blake pointed out the window. Ruby and Yang were just clearing the edge of the forest, laughing and hanging off one another, both covered in mud.

Summer sighed. "I'll get the hose."