Please enjoy~

Chapter 72: Visions of Red

Several nights later, Ruby sat in her tent with Weiss. Dressing down in night clothes and readying for bed, she wrinkled her nose at the strong disinfectant scent from a wet cloth but dutifully drew it across her skin. They hadn't cross a large enough water source to properly bathe, but maintaining hygiene was important on any journey. That, and Weiss would complain if she didn't.

Her thoughts strayed to the rather unimpressive mission so far…

…

It had taken them days to find even one Grimm - a lanky Beowolf sniffing around but was too young to sense them hiding nearby.

Claws sharpened and muscles coiled, prepared for a swift, lethal, and silent lunge. One swipe across the neck will suppress its dying screams, another to ensure decapitation.

Just before her feet left the ground, a hand gripped her shoulder. Qrow shook his head and signaled for the others to hold their fire.

In the end, they allowed it to pass unharmed and followed from a fair distance away. Ruby grimaced at every noisy crunch their footsteps made, as if their quarry would suddenly hear and assault them.

She quietly questioned why didn't they attack, but Qrow smirked and answered, "Not our mission. It's a survey, not culling the area like you're used to. Plus, it messes with the data. We'll fight if needed, but avoid it if we can."

Once everyone finished their tasks and gathered to set up camp, he explained further, "Did you know rookie teams don't usually get search and survey missions? Heh, they're often too impulsive and rush in where they shouldn't."

Yang raised a hand, a grin already forming. "Soooo~ how'd you get it? You're just as hot-headed as me."

He rolled his eyes and snorted, "No one's as hot-headed as you. Literally."

Despite sharing a laugh with everyone, the idea didn't sit well with Ruby. She remembered hunting alone, moving stealthily and avoiding conflicts. Necessities of a solitary predator. But leaving something that might hurt her friends so close by… was uncomfortable to say the least. A gnawing concern ate away at her, knowing she could end it so easily but withholding because of reason.

The next day, Faunus ears twitching had been the first sign. Ruby and Blake were the first to be alerted and signaled everyone to stay cautious.

Within minutes, they all heard the ominous rustling of the underbrush. Careless movements that didn't care if they were noticed.

Catching a glimpse in the shifting shafts of light from the canopies, they recognized the roaming gait of black wolfish limbs.

That urged them to move faster. Each of them can handle several Grimm of this caliber at a time, but all it took was a single misstep, a single fault in judgement. And in dense foliage with slippery roots and rocks at their feet, branches and fronds obscuring their eyes, a small skirmish can quickly become a struggle to survive.

Rushing as quickly as they could, the unmistakable presence of monsters closed and slowly encircled them. They needed to find a vantage point before they were ambushed and besieged on all sides.

Ruby swiftly navigated on edge. Her boots crushed and trampled the plants below, leaving deep grooves in the slick ground. Her eyes and ears roamed everywhere, tracking the slightest shade out of place. An unsettling thorn ensnared her heart from her namesake, howling out to devour any within reach.

Step by step, stride by stride, the ground beneath them gave way as vegetation grew sparser while rocks and pebbles populated and protruded beneath.

Tree trunks slowly tilted, reaching for a distant sun. The soil beneath their feet was no longer leveled, inclining at an imperceptible angle though their senses grasped the climbing elevation.

Breaking out of the tree line, they faced great grey cliff faces. Horizontal bands ran along their surfaces, marking the passage of millennia and a few jutted out almost enough for them to stand on.

With practiced motions, Weiss flicked her hand and her teammates crouched. Four glyphs rocketed them to safety.

Upon landing, Weiss spun around to assist the two left behind only to see daggers impale the stony wall and reel up Penny. Off to the side, Qrow dropped down from above with a click.

A lone and foolish wolf tried to charge only to be blown away by Qrow's shotgun.

Hesitation rippled through the underbrush, allowing them to continue edging along the steep walls.

Eventually they found a recess in the cliff side. Eroded away by wind and rain and open to the sky above, it was big enough for them to quickly set up camp. With only one opening, it should make defense and alerts much easier.

More sensors were placed along the perimeter and they maintained a close eye on the areas surrounding them. More impetuous Grimm had tried to advance but they were quickly picked off with an assortment of bullets, glyphs, explosions, and daggers.

However, they had to keep an eye to the sky as well. Faint shadows of avian Grimm circled above, and though they hadn't attacked and weren't in range, that could change immediately and without warning.

When it came to Ruby's turn for night watch alongside Weiss, she kept her gaze focused on the shadowy forests. A strange longing… a nostalgia washed over her. Bathed in the silver broken moon glow, her eyes glinted and glared at monsters lurking below - daring them to take even one claw closer to her friends.

Yet if they did… how could she stop them from up there?

…

Ruby shook her head and discarded the thoughts for now. Their turn was over and it was Blake and Penny's shift now.

She looked over to where her partner sat on their sleeping mat and sensed Weiss' unease as she took out her rapier to perform maintenance.

Ruby watched carefully as delicate fingers released various mechanisms on the weapon. Dismantling the Dust cylinder, carefully emptying out the unspent ammunition and taking inventory of their remainder, wiping down and inspecting each chamber to prevent jamming and misfire.

Precise and confident touches sent shivers down Ruby's body.

But in her inspiration and fancy, she noticed the furrowed brow and the tiny frown that graced her heiress.

"What's wrong, Weiss?" she called out sweetly.

No answer, but Weiss had heard.

Perhaps she understood Ruby would have asked eventually. Her young leader was awfully perceptive, especially and annoyingly so when Weiss was trying her hardest to maintain an implacable facade.

Without turning, she knew Ruby was sitting cross-legged behind her - tail flicking back and forth, waiting for her eventual response.

There was no way to hold out against it and Weiss was fully aware. Somehow, Ruby had developed a way to prod Weiss for an answer without even doing anything!

"I… what are your opinions of Qrow?" Weiss finally asked.

Ruby made an inquisitive noise, but no comment. She knew this wasn't really a question for her, merely a way for Weiss to say what was truly on her mind.

Weiss smiled wryly, wondering just how well her partner understood her. After a year and half, they had learned so much about each other, yet there was still so much more.

"Do you remember when Winter left?"

An unseen nod.

Weeks ago, Ruby had accompanied Weiss in seeing her sister off. Winds whipped and buffeted them from the aircraft blades but Winter remained as stoic as ever.

"Our time together was far too short, though it was wonderful to see you again," Winter leveled a thin but sincere smile.

Weiss kept trying to say 'Farewell', but was too overcome with emotions for any coherency so Winter quickly hugged her to spare her the embarrassment.

"Oh I was not!" Weiss huffed as Ruby giggled at the memory. "But… she did whisper something to me," Weiss admitted fondly.

"She told me she was… proud. Of what I was trying to do, and of what I will do."

Winter left to carry out her mission and duties, a mirror of dedication that Weiss desperately hoped to reflect. An aspiration, an ideal - a sister she had chased after for so long had acknowledged her efforts.

…But upon meeting Qrow… he had not only insulted her, but insulted Winter!

He was polite enough during their second meeting, acting as if the debacle he instigated before never happened. Though that may have been because Yang was there. The blonde seemed overly cheery as she introduced each of them and highlighted their best points.

Still, her indignation boiled and she might have acted rashly had Ruby not pulled her towards the rear of the van.

During the trip so no one noticed, Ruby had slipped her hand over Weiss' and gave a reassuring squeeze. Her message was clear: they might not like Qrow much after what happened, but he is Yang's uncle and the veteran hunter for this mission.

That thought left a disagreeable taste.

Winter was also a huntress, and comparing him to the sister she has looked up to all her life…

But even she couldn't have been oblivious to how Yang acted in his company. They may joke around, punch and shove while calling names, and criticize each other's recklessness… yet her lilac eyes always lit up in a sense of pride when talking about him…

…so similar to how her eyes must be when talking about Winter…

Icy blue gazed back sadly, reflected in the polished grey sheen of her blade.

She couldn't blame Yang. Everyone had someone they looked up to. And she wasn't going to ruin that for Yang or her team by keeping a grudge.

No doubt Ruby would be thinking the same… had already been thinking of the same. She was grateful that Ruby kept a close eye on her, making sure that she was not only well physically, but also mentally and emotionally.

She lowered her rapier as warm arms circled her neck.

Weiss quickly put away her weapon before either of them could get hurt right as Ruby embraced her close.

She knew Ruby was trying to distract her by breathing gently right next to her ear. The warm rushes of air tickled so she simply leaned back into Ruby's chest and allowed herself to be whisked away.

Licking her lips lightly, she decided now was a good time as any to ask.

"Ruby?" she called out softly.

"Hmm?"

"What… what do you want out of this… relationship?" she couldn't help but wince and wished that she could have worded that better.

Ruby remained silent which Weiss took as a good sign. It meant she was thinking seriously.

"Is what we're doing now no good?" Ruby inquired quietly, nuzzling Weiss' hair. "Everyone knows now so… we can kiss openly right?"

Yes!/No!

Weiss' mind warred fiercely. Public displays of affections like small kisses… or maybe occasionally on the the cheek was fine…

But the kisses that burned her up with longing, where her hands had to grip her skirt lest they started roaming across Ruby's warm body pushed up against her…

"What do you want to do?"

Ruby's question was so innocent that Weiss felt a bit of shame and guilt flicker through for her earlier thoughts.

Deciding against voicing her more carnal desires, Weiss decided to describe a date.

"I want to go to different places with you. See different things, eat different foods." Sighing contently as her mind reached out into her imagination, "Visiting a museum or a gallery might be fun. Or maybe a cruise since you can't keep still or quiet for more than ten minutes."

"That's a vacation!" Ruby chuckled. "Besides, we're already going to different places. Like right now!"

Weiss reached up and flicked Ruby's ear playfully. "I want to do other stuff too!"

"Like what?"

"…Dressing up in nice clothes… walking together… taking pictures together…" Weiss listed off slowly, already imagining how cute Ruby would look after cleaning up properly for a date.

"Okay, we'll do that then," Ruby agreed easily, her mind already making plans. Her weight shifted and she pulled Weiss backwards with an 'Eep!' and toppling both of them onto the sleeping mat.

Weiss struggled to get up and found herself poised above the smaller girl, her hands pinning Ruby's tank top. Ruby still maintained her hug, her arms lifted and clasped at the base of Weiss' neck.

"I don't know a lot, Weiss…" Trust shone softly in those silver irises and lit up one of the purest smiles ever to behold. "…But I trust you. So I'll do whatever you want."

Pulse.

Dangerous. Those words are far too dangerous!

Ruby pulled her down slowly with dainty giggles and nipped at her lips blissfully, leaning up and matching her desire.

Weiss' vision blurred into a rosy haze.

Her last conscious thought was of how hard she willed her fingers to grip Ruby's tank top.

In the dark, Blake kept a silent vigil. Though she didn't enjoy having her sleep interrupted, there was still a strange calm in watching over an empty land lit by the heavens above.

Beside her, Penny was tinkering with something. For several nights now, actually. Curiosity got the better of her and she asked.

"I want to surprise everyone by compiling all of the sensors' data so we can have a real-time map of Grimm activity in the area," Penny beamed. "Almost done. Just need to override one small security feature to link it to my systems."

"Don't overwork yourself, Penny," Blake warned, however she had to smile at how sincere she was pushing herself to be helpful. There was a small worry in the back of her mind regarding Penny's power consumption. She promised before they left that while the information was classified, she was more than capable of keeping up for an extended mission.

Her concerns must have shown because Penny slowed down.

"As long as you're okay though, I think everyone will be really happy," Blake reassured her. "Especially since Qrow explained it would normally take hours of tedious work."

Last time, Penny had helped her modify her phone to remotely record conversations and it had proven useful while they were in Atlas.

Nodding resolutely, Penny returned to her work while Blake cast a gaze out once more.

Not that she expected much to show up. They barely saw any Grimm and the ones from today hadn't really been anything special.

Minutes later, a small ping drew her attention.

"Oh! I can see them!" Penny exclaimed.

Robotic irises whirred and focused. A map overlaid her vision and projected red points where activity was detected.

Processors pooled together the data gathered over the course of days and started mapping. From there, Penny found she could even specify parameters to pinpoint and target movement of a certain Grimm or filter probable paths based on size variations for specific types.

The map zoomed in to the area surrounding them where sensors had been set up hours before. Her mouth opened to tell Blake exactly how many were hiding just beyond the trees when everything froze.

Her circuits calculated again. And again. Double-checking. Triple-checking.

The map disappeared, lost as her vision was blinded by red.

Extra:

Glassy, empty, soulless eyes

Watching in the shattered light

A hazy rose, a blinding red

A tinted world where all are dead

Ah, things are starting to pick up.

Ruby and Weiss' reflection on meeting Qrow was supposed to happen last chapter, but I didn't want to do a flashback within a flashback so I shifted the focus to Yang. We didn't actually get to see Winter leave before, a decision I am quite regretting, haha~ It was supposed to happen right after Penny joined the team and would have included her pride in Weiss along with some thoughts regarding Qrow and Ruby. Alas, other events just distracted from it.

Well, just have to keep rolling with it now.

Please tell me what you think and I'll see everyone next chapter!