Blake could easily admit to herself that she had a crush on Ruby.

Even as she peered over the top of her book at Ruby's attempt to build a tower of cards, the slight flutter in her stomach made it clear that she was indeed having… feelings towards the girl.

It was hard for Blake to pinpoint when exactly she started to form romantic feelings towards Ruby. When Blake had first met her, all Blake could think of was that the younger teen was incredibly clumsy – having caused a dust explosion via Schneeze – darn it Yang. Blake shook her head in a vain hope to get the Yang-like puns out of it. The next day was initiation and the fight in the forest during initiation had certainly showed that Ruby had skill, that Ruby wasn't all what she had seemed when Blake first met her.

Heck, the fact she had an interest in what I was reading the night before is unusual. Most people the night before Initiation had kept to themselves, nervous over the upcoming day.

Ever since Ruby had been made leader of team RWBY, Blake had been on the receiving end of the young girl's kindness – ranging from the time when Ruby had read a book to her to when Ruby had tried to hide her from the fury of Yang.

If Blake was being honest, Ruby was the kind of person that Blake had hoped to stay, an optimist. It was the type of person that Blake had been once but was no longer, her years in the White Fang having eradicated her hopeful optimism.

I still don't know how Ruby is an optimist with the world we live in.

It didn't matter to Blake how Ruby was what she is, outside of idle curiosity. Instead it fostered a sense of wanting to protect the girl and her ideals. Almost like a sense of possessiveness.



Blake sighed softly; she is also just plain fun to be around. Ruby had dragged Blake to more than a few fun filled times – the Vale WeaponCon to name just one. Instead of sitting by herself, reading her Saturday away, Ruby had taken Blake to new experience - a convention.

In short it was pretty easy for Blake to realize that she may like Ruby as more than a friend, Yang's comment had just brought the dynamic that she shared with Ruby into Blake's focus. What was not so easy was how to proceed next.

On the one hand Blake wouldn't mind seeing where a possible romantic pursuit of Ruby would take the two…

On the other hand Blake didn't want to mess up her friendship with Ruby. Ruby might not even see me more than a friend. Blake most assuredly did not want to mess with one of her treasured friends, or even worse, alienate Ruby.

There was also the fact that if Blake wanted to protect the optimist in Ruby, she could never share about her time in the White Fang. It would destroy what she thinks of me. Blake could feel her ears flatten at the thought. No, perhaps it would be best to just stay silent on it.

Ruby knew about Blake's status as a Faunus, something that no one else in the team did, but not even Ruby had knowledge of Blake's former… occupation.

Although, maybe I should start being a bit more open? Blake sighed again. Then what happens if I alienate them? Ruby took it well enough b-

"Uhh… Blake?"

Blake looked up from her book to find Ruby a few feet away. "Hm..?"

"You keeping sighing and… I think your book is upside down…." Ruby was nervously fidgeting. "Um…"

"Just a lot on my mind" including you. "That's all."

Ruby perked up. "Anything I can help with?"

Blake tapped her chin with more then a little uncertainty entering her voice. "A-actually…"

AU: Huh, well I do wonder what Blake is going to say. I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE NEXT CHAPTER... Its going to be a fun chapter next time.

This is actually a big moment for the two... we've finally hit the point where they both sort of have crushes on each other. It's only taken me something like twenty thousand words to get to this point. Maybe by thirty or forty thousand word count they'll be on the first date, who knows?

...I know that's who :P Have a great day! New chapter soon (probably friday or saturday)!

P.S. Thank you for reading this story, I'd like to point out that I have over 300 followers, something I never thought this little project would garner. So thank, seriously, thank you!

P.S.S. For all those who are curious I do have the next chapter of Acceptance done, it is currently in the process of editing so expect it's release within a week or so.