Ruby had gone through a number of emotions over the last ten minutes. At first there had been excitement as she had watched Blake and Yang go at each other during a sparring match. That had led to fear as Blake had managed to cut off a few strands of Yang's hair. Fear morphed into guilt as Ruby was certain that she had hurt Blake's head. Finally she was feeling shock; it's not every day you find out that your teammate has kitty ears.

She couldn't help but stare at the fuzzy black ears sticking out of the top of Blake's head. Does that mean she is a Faunus?

"Buh-wha?"

That was as much as she could get out, not very coherent but a good representation of Ruby's mind. Ruby watched; fascinated as the furry cat ears twitched to her voice breaking the silence. They were most definitely real, and most definitely cute Ruby numbly decided.

Blake on the other hand was not having a myriad of emotions; rather it was panic and fear which was just occurring in progressively larger quantities. It felt like her mind was on overdrive, as if someone had just poured in nitro and slammed down on the accelerator. What made it worse was the lack of any response from the younger girl. She must hate me.

The Faunus had hoped, had HOPED, that someday she could come clean with her team. When Blake had signed up for Beacon Academy, she had a hope for possibly being placed on a team with another Faunus, or even just non-bigoted humans. That had been dashed when a certain Heiress was placed on her team.

Yet it hadn't been all bad; Yang was an amazing partner, puns notwithstanding. Weiss was…manageable, she was cordial enough to work with and that was about all that could be said for that. Then there was Ruby.

Ruby Rose, the girl who was standing in shock in front of her, staring at Blake's ears unable to formulate anything to say. It was a look of someone trying to understand, as Ruby tilted her head, eyes narrowed in what could only be accusation. I thought she'd be the most understanding too…

It wasn't like Blake had wanted to hide who she is; I just didn't want to get picked on… No, that wasn't the reason if Blake was being truthful with herself.

I wanted to be normal.

After so many years being separated from society, for doing black ops missions for the White Fang, Blake craved normalcy. To have friends, a bed to sleep in, to go to school, to not live a life in the shadows.

A small part of Blake had always known eventually someone would find out, that at some point she'd have to tell her teammates, her friends. I always thought it'd be Ruby I'd tell first. Looks like my wish came true, Blake thought with more than a little sarcasm.

There had been a few close calls, more then once when she'd come out of the shower and had nearly taken two steps into the dorm room without her bow before realizing. Fortunately no one had seen her each time.

A fleeting thought entered Blake's mind, a dark thought, maybe if I give her a knock in the head, she'll forget? The fact that Blake even gave it a second thought was horrifying to her, as she squashed as fast as it appeared.

Still, Ruby stared at Blake, not saying anything besides a sputter or two. The silence felt like a palpable pain to Blake. Ruby, probably one of her closest friends- No, she is my closest friend,- wasn't saying anything. Just staring at her Faunus ears. At the mark of distinction between Blake and everyone she knew at Beacon. Staring at that… that thing, that made people call her an animal.

A sound broke the silence of the closet.

Ruby's gaze finally left Blake's cat ears as the sound repeated itself, then again with more urgency. The girl's eyes were drawn to the source of the noise. Ruby's eyes did not have to travel very far before finding the source; Blake was softly sobbing as she hugged herself.

The wonderment that had been etched into Ruby's mind vanished into concern, "B-Blake ar-"

"I get it, okay", Blake's tone was harsh. Harsher then Ruby had ever heard it. It made the girl flinch. "I'm just some sub-sentient Faunus to you now." The hurt was dripping out of her voice to Ruby, the younger girl's eyes going wide "I've lied to you and now you can't trust me. I get it." Ruby could see the tears fall off Blake's face as her tone became colder, more detached. "I'll tell Yang and Weiss before I leav-"

Blake was interrupted before she could finish, Ruby knocking her over, again. Does she hate me that much- Her line of thought stopped as she realized this was not something meant to hurt her, but rather a hug.

"Nope!"

Blake blinked in confusion as Ruby's arms all but clamped onto her, binding her in place. "Wh-"

"Blake, why would I- why would any of us want you to leave?" The confusion in Ruby's voice only served to confuse Blake more. Why would she be confused?! She should be angry!

An emotion, almost like anger boiled suddenly in Blake as she struggled in Ruby's arms, "Because I lied to you! Because I'm a Faunus! I saw you, you were speechless, you could have said something, anything!" Anger was boiling into a red veiled rage within Blake. "But all you could do was just stare at my ears! Don't try saying yo-"

"That's because they're cute." Ruby's quiet voice breaks Blake mid-stride. Blake's anger evaporated on the spot, as Ruby's head tilted into Blake's view. Ruby's tear streaked face obliterated whatever anger that was left in Blake. "I was staring because they're cute."

"They're cute?" Blake dumbly parroted it back to Ruby.

Ruby nodded, a blush forming on her face, "Yeah."

"Oh" Blake was left without any words to say as a matching blush formed on her face. Out of every reaction she had expected, this was not one of them.

Ruby slowly continued, "You're Blake to me, regardless if you're a Faunus or human." She hugged tighter as Blake finally started to return the hug. "I still trust you."

Relief flooded Blake as she basked in the warmth of the hug. A few seconds later, she felt herself drain as the emotion toll finally started to take effect.

"Thank you"

Out of the vast vocabulary that Blake possessed, it was all she could say. Ruby gave her a giant goofy smile, "No pro-"

Click

The door started to open.

AU: OH CLIFF HANGERS YOU ARE SO VERY FUN!

Yes I actually have even MORE CONTENT for the little mini-arc. Content that deserves a different chapter for reasons I will explain in the next chapter which should be Thursday-ish? Or so?

Thank you for the many reviews! You guys and gals are amazing!