spartan2545 - Tumblr blog

spartan2545 · 4 years

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A White Rose Blooms Where First Planted

White Rose Week: Day 1

Rating: G

Word Count: 3220

Summary: Back in Vale after their travels around Remnant, Ruby takes Weiss on what she think is just another little adventure. But really, it is more than that.

Links: FFN AO3 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Ruby, could you at least slow down a bit?” Weiss called from her usual position of trudging a few meters behind her partner, the other woman’s speed she learned long ago not only being semblance related. The exact moment for that was probably the first time she saw Ruby eat. “And; where exactly are we going? Or why?” That part of the situation was also normal for the pair. Ruby would ask, plead, sometimes beg for Weiss to accompany her to somewhere and then not give nearly enough detail about the specifics. Weiss for her part had learned that she nearly always, excluding a few instances involving unexpected very large Grimm, had a good time. So she, as always, went along. After Ruby used her magics of persuasion including the aforementioned begging on her at least. “You’ll see!” Ruby turned back and cheerily replied with her trademark, patented, and copyrighted smile, “It's only a little further.”

On other occasions, Weiss often pressed the issue; ensuring that before it was upon them Ruby hadn’t concocted a daft situation that would be a pain to get out of. Today, however, was different. They weren’t in a new place, or one even one that had been seldomly visited by at least one of them. Not a place where whatever Ruby saw fit to store in the backpack she’d donned might not be sufficient. No; for they were in the Emerald Forest. The familiar lush green trees for which it was named intermittently blocked the sun on the gorgeous day. Wind flowed through the leafed branches with a pleasant rhythm. And it was neither too hot nor too cold even without the use of aura. Being back in Vale to retrieve the Crown of Choice had allotted the opportunity to be places they knew; a welcome change from the wilds of Vacuo they had just trudged. Considering the Fall Maiden was Cinder, it also meant they had time to wait while Salem’s side made a move; so they could enjoy it at least for now. Ruby slowed her pace a bit, letting Weiss catch up until she was right behind her. The leader was humming happily to herself with eyes nearly fixed ahead. She was a woman on a mission, and one she was happy about; her partner liked it when she got this way, and it had happened far too infrequently as of late with the unpleasant realities of war. For her part, Ruby could see her partner out of the corner of her eye, and it was a lovely sight. While she would have always said so about her, now especially because Weiss was wearing her very best attire. A smile.

It was just what Ruby was hoping for; that Weiss would enjoy this little trek and eventually its destination. That smile had gotten too rare; not appropriate in the battle so often fought. But now she was happy for the fun of going off on some lighthearted adventure. Just like they used to. Trees, rocks, and meter after meter of ground were swiftly left in the wake of the two huntresses. It wasn’t hard for them to traverse a place like this, so they could more or less focus on simply enjoying it. Enjoying, even more than the day, each other’s company. There were so many words between them, now left unspoken as they didn’t need to be. They knew and understood each other so well at this point, and quiet with just the two of them was a luxury that had been elusive for some time. Then, Ruby stopped dead in her tracks. She turned her head from side to side for a moment. Her smile only grew larger. “We’re here!” She exclaimed, turning to face Weiss with her arms outstretched and grinning from ear to ear. Weiss had stopped too, now amused by her partner, but looked around herself and was a bit confused, “And, if I may ask, where exactly is ‘here’?” Ruby laughed at her partner a bit, Weiss knowing it was in with her and never at her; “Weiss! You can’t tell me you don’t remember!” Ruby waved at their surroundings, “Come on; use that smart head of yours a bit.” And so Weiss did. For a minute she examined the clearing that they were in. It was overall typical of the forest. Nothing stood out as special or worthy of note. *Why would Ruby want to come to a place like this?* She thought to herself, reasoning, *This is Ruby we’re talking about. . . So it holds a significance, but maybe more sentimental. Like if we had been. . . Here. . . Before* The ex-heiress nearly face palmed. She looked to Ruby who had only gotten more excited, she was almost bouncing, as it became clear Weiss had made the realization, “This. . . This is where we became partners, isn’t it?” Ruby vigorously nodded her head and clapped her hands together; “Yep! It is! Of course the dolt would bring her to a place like this. Weiss took a second to solidify the memory. Oh how things had changed since back when Ruby was merely the lesser of two evils, with the worst being Jaune. Back when she thought Ruby might be a burden on her life in schooling. . . How wrong she turned out to be. “So. . . What made you want to come here?” Weiss asked, making sure not to imply she didn’t like this. Because she did. “You know I like trips down memory lane,” Ruby responded, “And this just seemed perfect. We had the time, we were nearby, the weatherman said it would be a great day and it is!” Ruby punctuated it with a smile, an adorable habit Weiss said so. “Makes sense to me.” Weiss agreed, letting out a sigh of happy contentment, “A lot has changed since we lifers saw each other here.” “It sure has.” Ruby stepped a little closer to Weiss, “We didn’t know or even really like each other. I was a kid who really was overwhelmed by everything that was happening and maybe not completely ready for this. Naive and even more socially awkward.” “And I was a stuck up heiress who was rather unfair to everyone, but you most of all.” Weiss gained a slight blush from her coming words, “I thought you would be an embarrassing pain in my life, just one step up from Vomit Boy.” Ruby giggled, holding up two fingers just ever so barely not touching, “I kinda do hope I’m still just a little teensy bit of a step up from Jaune.” “Quite honestly; I do think I would rate you as at least a couple.” They shared a smile, looking at each-other as deeply as only best friends can. Or at least, that’s what Weiss had thought before not long ago. Recently she began to think that, just maybe, the way looked and Ruby looked at each other, felt about each other, and everything else. . . Was more than what best friends do.

Then Ruby took her hand. An action that had been getting more and more common recently; far from a strange thing for members of the team. But for some reason, it sent a jolt through Weiss every time it was with Ruby now. A jolt was the best way she could describe it at least, but . . . it was far from unpleasant. “You know one that that hasn’t changed though?” She asked, giving the smaller hand in hers a little squeeze, “That I’m so happy to look into your eyes. That’s what got us to be partners, and I was happy then. But now. . . I only like them more!” “I couldn’t agree more.” They each knew the other’s words were as true as their own. Pools of mercury and sapphire stared back as each other, lingering until they both noticed they were staring.

The day that they met, the moment they became partners all in the mess that was the Beacon initiation, was a turning point more than probably any other in their lives. Everything they had gone through since was in part because of it, at least in some way. But especially who they had become. It was slow, over time. But eventually they got to here. Where they were happy despite it all. And they had what had maybe happened the slowest, but made them the happiest. What they had with one another. “A lot really has changed since back then,” Ruby began to reflect, “We’ve changed and grown a lot. Fought so many bad guys and Grimm and traveled to new places so much. Who could have thought we’d be on a journey to save the world? . . . It’s not all been easy, we both know that too well. It’s not the life either of us would have asked for exactly. . . But. . . I’m happy to face any and all of it, as long as I have you with me.” “You know I feel the same way,” Weiss agreed, “Ruby, you make me know it’ll all be okay, and that whatever it is we can win. With you I honestly believe that. . . And I know if I need help, you’ll always be there for me.” “I will, and you’ll be for me,” Ruby laughed to herself a bit, “Just like I tried to. . . Varying. . . Success when we first met.” “We’re not going to make those mistakes again,” Weiss laughed back. Ruby had always really loved her laugh, at least now it wasn’t as rare as it used to be. “Mistakes,” Ruby said before pausing, clearly intentionally dramatically. It was rather endearing. Then whipping something out, “Like not taking a selfie together here!” Weiss looked at the scroll Ruby now held aloft in her hand, “To be fair, we did have much better thing to be doing,” She pointed out, “Like making sure not to die to Grimm.” “Yeah, Yeah, I know.” Ruby acknowledged, “But now? We can wreck anything that comes near us without a sweat! So. . . I was thinking we could take one here, now.” Weiss could figure out Ruby’s thought process rather easily about all of this. They were near the end of their journey, so Ruby bright then back to the beginning. They didn’t know how dark things might get soon, so they went to a happy place of light. And she wanted to save the memory, so that no matter what happened, they would always have it. She loved the way Ruby thought sometimes. “I think I like think that idea.” She said And with that, Ruby handed Weiss the scroll, as they both knew was better at this type of thing. They got closer together, each put an arm around the other. Weiss held her free hand out, and: “Cheese!” They both smiled as the camera flashed. Capturing a memory, that somehow both of them knew, despite in of itself being only a one day trip, would be something they would cherish forever to come. It was a little thing, but a lot of life is about the little things. “It looks great!” Ruby proclaimed with glee, eagerly showing Weiss the picture she could always have seen just about as well as Ruby could have. But of course she had to make sure.

“I think it looks great too.” She agreed, and it really did. It was the two of them happy together so, how could it not? But as nice as it looked, instead of dwelling on it, she looked to what was so much better to her; Ruby in the flesh beside her.

She did what she did so often, and looked for that smile. But as Weiss turned to Ruby, she found something she wouldn’t have suspected, a surprise and an unpleasant one at that. While Ruby was still looking at the picture, there was no smile on her face. In its place was a look of contemplation, and appearing to be not a happy reflection. As if all of the energy from just a moment prior was still there, but had transformed to worry. Accented with a mercifully rare frown.

“Ruby?” Weiss questioned with a mark of confusion, and a little concern. “What’s wrong?”

Unusually, it seemed to take a few seconds for the younger woman to even acknowledge her partner’s words. Curiously, she didn’t look to Weiss, instead sighing with her eyes locked in place. In gradients and variation of the shade through the trees, it was a bit hard to tell, but it looked as though maybe Ruby had begun to blush.

“It’s just. . . . To be honest, the photo wasn’t the only reason I wanted you to come out here with me. There’s more. . . A lot more than that.”

The statement left a question in the air even as the sounds died away, it hung there, undisturbed by the blowing breeze. This time, it was Weiss that took Ruby’s hand. As they touched she felt that feeling again. Whatever this was, it was important. And she wanted to feel, be, closer during this.

“What. . . What is it?” Weiss wished she had something better to say, but if she was honest with herself, she wasn’t the best with situations like this. Ones that clearly meant something.

Ruby took a deep breath, and looked at Weiss once more, squeezing her hand a little. A small, cautious smile now graced her lips. Silver looked deep into blue, and blue back into silver. They had each not put it into words yet, but whenever this happened they could feel the connection they had. Two souls abidingly tied together, from the first time their eyes met. As best friends are.

Right?

“Weiss,” The normal exuberance replaced with purpose, “This place means a lot to me, because to me, it means a lot to us. I talk a lot about friends and being partners with you and all that. . . But I don’t think I ever really say how much you mean to me. Actually, I know I haven’t,”

The white haired woman just stood there, listening intently and gazing into the sparks of life deep in shining grey. All the while, there was a feeling in her chest that she couldn’t quite place. An anticipation for what Ruby was going to say as she felt her cheeks color.

Hope?

“I, uhm, I really like you Weiss. Like. . . More than just my partner, or my best friend. . .” She laughed a little sheepishly, “But I guess that doesn’t really make this different from a lot of other partnerships, huh? Being through so much with someone, after being so lucky to get with someone so great to begin with. I think, hope, you feel the same way about me. . . And. . . All of that started here. . . So it felt right to me that this would be where I would take you on our first date. . .” Eye contact broke as Ruby grew redder, darting to the forest around them “I just couldn't work up the courage to ask you before we got here.”

Then, with a bigger smile now, Ruby turned back to Weiss.

Weiss was stunned. Of all of the things that Ruby could say to her, tell her, she would not have expected this. What seemed to be just another little adventure, was meant to be a date, even if without her knowledge. It was odd, more than a little awkward, and a roundabout way to do something like this but a way that seemed to work for her.

It was so Ruby. Different, in a way Weiss couldn’t help but find it endearing.

That feeling she got whenever she and Ruby touched or looked in each other’s eyes now flared up inside her like a fire. It felt even better now than it ever had before, and from her core it radiated out through herself. What from this Ruby could see, was a wider and wider smile form on her face and a sparkle in her eyes.

“I never thought I’d go on a date to a forest,” She laughed back with joy, squeezing Ruby’s hand tighter, “And that I wouldn’t be asked before I went. . . . Or that it would be my best friend and partner asking me.”

“I hope that none of that is a dealbreaker.” Her normal optimistic cheer once again backed her words, the worries that plagued her put firmly to rest by how she could tell Weiss felt. She would have needed to know Weiss so well to see that, but that only made it so clear. It was going to be like how she had hoped, and recent nights dreamed.

“I think it might be even better this way.” The reply honest, now even more joyful at how they were enjoying all of this.

“So . . . . This can be our first date then?” Came the question for a complete confirmation. Now would be the worst time for a miscommunication, even if Ruby could feel that there wasn’t.

“Yes, I’d love it to be.” Her head nodded to make sure she was understood, “I just hope that you’ve a little more planned than just staying here.”

“Of course I do!” To help make the point, Ruby started walking in a direction, slowly for Weiss’s sake, and still grasping hold on to the place they were and the moment they were sharing, “I thought we could hike up to Cliff Landing Strategy, then watch the sunset there.” She gestured with her free hand to her pack, “And I packed some food for a kinda picnic there! Like when the sunsets!”

“A sunset picnic, in the forest our lives intertwined, as the sunsets. . . . Again, never something I would have thought of. . . . But it does sound nice. And it seems to me that you might be just a little romantic.” Step by step they moved, but their eyes really didn’t leave the other’s, Ruby only turning away for part seconds, a requirement of being in the lead.

“It’s kinda hard not to be around you.” And that just when Weiss thought her pale visage had mostly returned. But she held no real embarrassment from it, and with words like that, and everything she was feeling; Weiss though there was only one thing left to say:

“Ruby. . . I’m so glad we became partners.”

Words from the heart,

“So am I Weiss, and now I’m just as happy we can be even more.”

To another it knew so well,

“Me too.”

And back again to the one it was forever locked.

Together, they took one last look at the clearing before starting their hike. A slow hike, prolonging time with the company each kept. They weren’t far along when the reality of what had occurred caught up with them.

There had been no really big confession. No tears or pleas. No emotional upwelling one way or another. They just. . . Became a couple on a date from best friends on an adventure. As if it was something natural, and an easy thing.

But, that’s because for them it really was natural. Nothing had changed, not in their hearts and souls where it mattered. Only the words they used to tell themselves and others. In some ways, this might not have even been their first date.

But the thing both were certain of, more than anything else in the world, was that it would be far, far, from the last.

And with an afterlife in Remnant. . .

There would never have to be.

#white rose week #wrw2020 #white rose #day 1 #rwby

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spartan2545 · 5 years

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SnowStorm: A Willow Schnee Fanfic

Description: Willow Schnee has lived too long as a broken woman. Jacques went too far this time, so she's going to fight back.

Rated T to be safe

Links: AO3 FF

This is Chapter 1(2K words), 4 chapters (7.6K words total) have been posted so far

Weiss hadn't even told her she was leaving.

Let alone say goodbye.

She hadn't even noticed. Buried in the bottom of one bottle or another. Winter had told her.

What have I done to deserve someone who still cared?

None of it was a surprise. It had been this way for a long time.

Too long.

Willow looked at herself in the mirror. It was not something she liked to do, especially when the world was no longer mercifully blurred.

Her clothes were as pristine as one would expect of a Schnee, as her hair would be once she was done. After some deliberation, she had decided on a long braid like the one she once wore. But under it all, it was easy to find the broken woman. The blue staring back at her betrayed a shattered world.

The outfit was one she hadn't worn in a very long time, it was elegant as expected of her family, but more practical than her usual. It wouldn't look completely out of place on one of her daughters. Boots, fitted trousers, and a long tactical jacket. The white was accented by purple more than red and blue, in contrast to the rest of her family.

Not that she would have to do anything physical, but it gave her confidence. Some at least. Something that had left her years ago and had to be clawed back. Hopefully it would be enough.

On the table in front of her was the final piece:

Eisdunst; her backsword.

It had been years since she had seen it, let alone held or worn it.

It was from a different time, when she was a different woman.

When she had attended Atlas Academy. Before he convinced her stop, never to graduate.

When she left all of her friends, except James, who Jacque had also taken a liking to.

He had claimed that it was because it was dangerous and he couldn't bear the thought of her getting hurt. Willow now knew that that was a lie like so many others. It was just about controlling her.

Willow had loved that man. The suave young gentleman who swept her off her feet. He was always kind, offering any help that he saw she may need. He always offered to pay despite how much wealthier her family was than his.

Little things, like remembering which foods she liked best so quickly showed how much he cared she had thought. He could make her laugh, and unlike so many she had met, his joke were never cruel to anyone.

He treated her like person, more than any of the other suitors that had come not for her, but for her name.

Oh, how she was in love.

In love with the man he pretended to be.

It had been the best day of her life when he proposed, but not long after eclipsed by the birth of their baby girl.

It hadn't been long since her father had passed, so he offered to take up her position at the company, so she could spend more time with the baby. She only saw it as his sacrifice for her.

But that was when the cracks started to show.

Lies.

Decisions made behind her back.

A temper that she hadn't seen in the years she had spent with him.

The company had been no saint under her father, but now. . .

He always had an excuse, and she believed them at first.

Through two more children and almost two decades.

She still loved him.

But the fights got worse. He put everything into the company, and nothing to his family.

He gave nothing real to her anymore.

But underneath it all, she thought that there still was that man she loved.

Until that day. The worst day of her life.

How could he have said that? They were fighting, more common now than it ever had been but still. . .

And on Weiss's birthday.

"I never loved you"

But when he had said it, she knew it was true. Willow had seen this man lie for nearly half her life, and although he was very good at it, this man knew how to make the truth hurt even more.

It was that night she had started drinking.

She couldn't sleep without it. It was easier to blackout than to cry one's self to sleep. At least then Willow wouldn't be crying in her dreams as well.

It wasn't until a few months later she finally worked up the courage, and made herself see the world for the lie she had been tricked into living for too long.

She had found him in his office, as usual. And Willow finally told that man what she had wanted to for months. They were going to get a divorce and she was going to take her company, her children, and her name with her.

The smile, that had brought joy and made her heart flutter, now flushed ice through her veins. He was calm, he must have know this was coming. When that smile parted he made his threat, and she could tell it was not an idle one.

He would take the children from her

Drinking had gotten the better of Willow on a few occasions at public events. It had been very embarrassing, but she hadn't seen it as more than that. Now he was threatening to use it and everything else as evidence against her, maybe even have her committed.

Unless she stayed in line. Stayed out of trouble and pretended to be the perfect Schnee she had always been.

And so she did.

Drinking the pain away. A mother who was physically there, but only that.

She had had Klein put the sword away in a moment of clarity after an accident with a dinner knife showed she couldn't be trusted with it. And what if she left it somewhere and the children found it?

One of the few good things she did in the haze that had consumed her waking life.

Time, too much of it, passed in that fog.

Winter renounced her inheritance after following in her footsteps to Atlas, but finishing and joining the military.

Weiss wanted to get even farther away, so went to Beacon when her time came.

Willow was so proud of her daughters. They had stood up to the man that she couldn't and were thriving. One was one of the most promising young officers in the military. James was a good friend, but he would never have favoured her so except for her own merit.

All her life Winter had tried so hard to be the perfect heiress and daughter. But she could never do it; it wasn't who she was. Every failing had eaten away at her, it got so much worse when her mother wasn't there to support her.

One night, Winter had broken down after her anxiety had gotten the best of her yet again, and her father had made sure to reminder her that she was a disgrace for letting it happen. That night Willow had talked to her daughter, trying hard to be sober doing so, and helped her decide that her path was not to be the one set before her. But it could be one of her own making. That was the last time Willow did something she was proud of.

And then there was her little girl, whom she had watched from the prison of her own making, was finally happy, at least mostly. Weiss wasn't lonely; that sad song she had heard at night, the one that only made her drink more, was no longer true.

When Weiss first came home she tried to talk about it with her mother, and Willow could remember most of it. She seemed to deeply care about her team, and from what Weiss had said they cared for her too. Another team had been almost as close, not to mention a few other friends and acquaintances who she held in varying regard.

Even if the Fall caused more pain for it, losing some of those she honestly called friends and being ripped away from the rest.

That was really the only time they had really spoken, despite the months she was home.

Now they were both gone again.

Winter had told her some before being redeployed somewhere, trying to keep her mother not completely in the dark. Willow knew that her eldest could remember best when she wasn't this way, and probably still loved for who she was.

The younger two. . . May not. And she couldn't blame them.

She had overheard what and how her own son talked to Weiss. Just like his father. And with what Winter had told her it made sense. Now Whitley was heir.

What Klein had told her was the worst of all. He had been almost as angry as her, but he was powerless to do anything about it.

The man behind the mask had hit her before. When she had embarrassed him mostly. He made sure not to leave bruises where others might see them.

But that fucker had laid a hand on her daughter, her little girl.

And now, he couldn't threaten to take away her three children. Because two had already left because of him. And now she had to save Whitley from that monster.

Willow picked up the blade, her hand was shaking and not just because it felt heavier than she remembered: it has been a day since her last drink. Everything hurt and she felt sick, but now she needed her head clear, even if it did ache terribly.

Klein had kept her weapon in great condition, it wasn't sharp but still gleamed like she remembered. She checked the barrel on the back of the blade to make sure it wasn't loaded. She didn't want any accidents.

In the polished blade she could almost see the woman that she use to be.

Willow sheathed Eisdunst and affixed it to her belt.

The walk to his office was not a long one, but one she had not made for a long time.

She had been assured no one else would be around and no one else would be in the office. Klein really was one of the few friends she had left, and a better parent than she or her husband had ever been.

One final obstacle remained, the door.

Fears plague her, telling her to go back. The memory of the threats and every time she had failed were near consuming.

But she had come so far now, and the price of another failure was not one she could continue paying.

Willow slammed the door open, initially barely eliciting a response from the figure seated behind the desk.

When he looked up, there was first confusion. And not a small amount of displeasure.

And then he saw what she was wearing.

But most of all her eyes.

The fire that he had smothered long ago was ablaze again.

"Hello Jacques, we need to talk."

#willow schnee #rwby #rwby fanfiction #jacques schnee #weiss schnee #winter schnee #fanfic

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spartan2545 · 5 years

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A Snow and Color Blind Date

General Audience

Ilia X Winter

2200 words

FanFiction Link

AO3 Link

Summary: Ilia hasn’t had mush luck with the ladies. None actually. So Neptune sets her up on a blind date. She is in for a surprise by who her date is.

"Thanks for driving me Neptune"

"Not a problem," That stupidly confident grin he perpetually wore growing a bit wider, "After all, if I didn't there is no way you would ever have actually gone on this blind date that I worked so hard to set up for you."

"I would too!" Ilia protested, sounding more like a child than she would have liked.

It was not a complete lie. She probably, possibly might have not chickened out again. Sure, it had been a while since she had gotten a date, and she had never really been in a relationship, but that didn't mean she would run at the first opportunity instead of making a fool of herself in front of an attractive woman. Definitely not.

"Sure you would Ils," His smile had only grown more.

Okay, yeah, fine I probably wouldn't have. But you'll never get to know that.

Though sometimes he made her not want to admit it, Ilia was very grateful to have a friend like Neptune. He had backed off immediately after learning he was barking up the wrong tree on their first meeting. And despite Ilia's initial misgivings, after talking they hit it off better than anyone had expected and became fast friends.

Neptune quickly took it upon himself to become the wingman of the very clearly in distress chameleon girl. His success was somewhat limited. But he counted it as a win when ever he even got Ilia to just talk to a girl in a night, even if it rarely when anywhere further. Never went any further. . .

Just those small things really did help Ilia though. It had been hard getting over Blake after having that crush for so long, though she was very happy for her friend having found that fiery blonde that made her happy. Ilia knew it had also helped her self confidence, and although it still left much to be desired, it was a whole lot higher than the exactly zero it was before.

Talking to hot women was still an issue though.

So this was probably going to be as well.

"Alright, we're here." Neptune announced, pulling Ilia from her internal fears to face very external ones.

Ilia took a breath, "This is it," She said just barely not quietly enough to herself.

Neptune looked to his passenger, "Ilia, you are going to do fine. You're a great person, you're kind and smart. Not to mention pretty attractive. So, anyone would be lucky to date you," And with a trademark wink, "If you weren't gay I know I would."

His reassurance always helped at least a little. Even his joking flirts, now standard banter between them, were quite welcome.

"That's not a very high bar Neptune. You would date a table if it had nice legs."

They shared a laugh before Ilia was once again quickly just about overcome by her worry. She looked down at the burgundy dress she was wearing.

Will they even think I'm attractive? Probably not, I-

Neptune put a hand on her shoulder and unlocked the car door, "Knock 'em dead Ms. Rainbow. I'll be around to pick you up, depending on how well the date goes." He gave her another wink as she full-body blushed as usual.

"Thanks again." Ilia said as she stepped out of the neon blue mustang. A car that would be outrageous for anyone but Neptune.

"You can thank me after your date." Neptune yelled as he pulled away.

Ilia turned towards the restaurant, now realizing she was so wrapped up in her own head she hadn't even looked at it before. It was dark inside, not that it quite looked closed, but that the entire thing was even darker than it would have been with mood lighting. And there were only a few cars in the parking lot. It was a bit odd, she had been to The Ice Snake before and it had never been like this.

She slowly made her way towards the main entrance. Her anxiety building with every single step. Ilia took a deep breath as she opened the door.

And it only skyrocketed when she saw that no one else was in the restaurant. Literally every single table and chair was empty. No waiters were running about, and no one there to seat her.

But it still didn't look closed. The furniture and accouterments weren't put away and she could see two rooms that were better lit, one she knew to be the kitchen. The other, a back room she had always assumed was exclusively for very special (and very expensive) occasions.

Ilia inched towards that back room, more anxiety building along the way. From its direction she heard an odd sound. If she had to guess, it was much like trying to kick open a door with a boot. A sound she was familiar with considering her previous career path. It really didn't concern her though.

The prospect of meeting her date and all the horrible situations she could make a fool of herself continued to run rampant in her mind.

And she was half way there before she broke.

I don't need a date, I have enough in my life as it is.

The faunus hurried back to the glass doors she had just come through.

I'll just tell Neptune they were a no show! I don't live that far away, six miles isn't too bad.

When she got there she pushed against the door, but it wouldn't budge. Ilia looked down at the mechanism and saw that it had been locked.

Why is it locked from the outside?!

She looked up, only to see Neptune on the other side of the glass. He shook his head and pointed towards the back room, clearly having foresaw this eventuality and having stayed to prevent it.

Ilia sighed and did as she was told, seeing no other option. She tried to stay confident as she once again approached the back room.

How bad could it be?

She got closer.

Like who could it be that would be that bad?

She got closer.

It's not like she's going to be incredibly gorgeous.

She got closer still.

Or I already know her or anything,

She was just able to look inside when:

It's not like she's. . . Holy Shit!

Sitting in that back room, at a fully set table clearly only meant for two, was someone whom she knew. Who she had worked with before. Someone who she could almost count as a friend. And someone who she thought was exceptionally out of her league.

It was Winter Schnee.

The dashing, graceful, gorgeous Winter Schnee.

Ilia had heard people, notably Ruby's uncle, describe Winter as cold. But Ilia believed that she was exactly the opposite.

She was wearing a beautiful gradient blue dress, a slit up at least one side showing legs that made it hard for Ilia to think. Well, pretty much everything about Winter made it hard for Ilia to think. It was a good thing the dress had a shallow neckline.

Winter was staring at her scroll, apparently annoyed and sending a text. She hadn't seen Ilia yet. She was wearing boots.

So the chameleon girl bolted to a side entrance, hoping that maybe Neptune wasn't at that one. And of course, she found it locked too.

Only when she looked up this time, it was Sun.

Sun, like his partner, was something of a nearly full time wingman. Though his responsibility was sorting out the mess that was team RWBY. You'd think that having an ancient immortal wizard play matchmaker would have made things easier.

Like Neptune before, he shook his head and pointed to the back room. Ilia surmised he was probably here to do the same job for Winter as Neptune was for her. She put her hands together and bagged silently through the glass, but to no avail. Ilia guessed that only worked on him when you had cute cat ears to fold back.

Again she sighed and went back to the room.

Ilia stole a glance at the other side entrance, to see if maybe with only the two of them it was unguarded. But even in the twilight she could see a blazing gold mane watching from outside.

I guess they gotten Yang to help.

For a moment she gazed at the skylight, wondering if that was a possible escape route, only to see she thought might be a silhouette. It would have to be a very tall woman with a ponytail.

There really was no way out of this.

For what would definitely be the last time, Ilia approached the doorway and took a breath.

You can do this. You can do this. And no matter what, Winter's nice so it won't be bad.

She walked in.

"Ilia?" Winter asked, clearly somewhat surprised by who her date was as well.

"H-hey Winter," Ilia tried to keep the nervousness out of her voice as she stood stupidly, unsure of what action to take next.

"Uh- Please sit Ilia," Winter said gesturing to the other end of the candle lit table, fearful that Ilia's actions were due to her greeting being rude. "I have to say I wasn't expecting you. Though I don't know what I was expecting."

"Completely blind date for you too then?" Ilia asked

Winter sighed, "Yes. My sister and her team finally convinced me to go on a date. They set all of this up, they must have rented out the whole restaurant for the night."

"Neptune did it on my end. I saw Sun here too," Ilia commented, "Did you know they locked us in here?" She continues, a millisecond later realizing that the only way she would have known that was by trying to leave. Her blush was thankfully less noticeable in candle light.

Winter nervously laughed and cleared her throat "Ahem, Yes I did." She glanced to the rear of the room, where there was another exit. With a boot print still clearly visible. This time the Schnee blushed, her alabaster skin clearly going pink "I guess they rightfully trusted neither one of us."

They both laughed a bit, but then was a bit of an awkward silence.

Ilia thought of something to say, scrounge up as much courage as she could muster to spit it out. "W-well, I'm not unhappy about who my turned out to be. You look great by the way" Then came the fear waiting for the response.

Winter softly smiled, blushed a bit deeper, and only a little less nervously said, "T-tank you. I'm not either. You also beautiful tonight Ilia." She caused a similar reddening of her date.

"So. . ." Ilia picked up the menu in front of her "Do you know what you're having?"

"Well I'm certainly not going to have the pork." Winter stated, with what might have been a small amount of disgust.

"That's my favorite!" Ilia exclaimed, "May I ask why?" She then questioned.

"Just promise not to laugh at me," Ilia nodded, so Winter smiled and continued, "You see, the last mission I was on was mostly hunting Boarbatusks. . ."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The food had been great, if a little different than they remembered. And the service was excellent, even if somehow the waiter always kept them from getting a good look at him.

It was a few hours of talking, joking, and enjoying each other's company before the pair left the restaurant, hand in hand and laughing.

All this without any alcohol too, as Winter didn't drink considering how well that had gone before in her family.

"I had a lovely time tonight Ilia." Winter said as they stood outside the main doors.

"I did too." Came Ilia's honest reply.

They both now looked somewhere other than the woman in front of them and started at the same time;

"I-"

"We-"

Now both were too nervous to say anything more after that false start. After a few seconds that felt like minutes they both looked up. Grey met blue, and despite each of their fears, they then realized in that moment they both wanted the same thing.

Ilia and Winter drew closer, feeling the other's breath on their skin.

They pulled each other into a kiss, not too long nor deep, it being their first after all. But enough that each was glowing afterwards.

"That was nice."

"We should do this again"

For a very brief they softly looked to each other, before being rather suddenly interrupted.

"Oh Yeah!"

"We did it!"

"Not so useless anymore!"

The pair looked to see Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang, Neptune, and Sun come out of the darkness from different guard positions around the building. All were clearly elated at their plan's success.

They heard a noise behind them, and looked to see Nora, Scarlet, and Sage come out from the restaurant, all looking like they had been in the kitchen the entire time. Ren came out close behind, and by how her was dressed, had apparently been their waiter. Then they saw Pyrrha and Jaune jump down from their perch on the roof beside the other members of JNPR. They all seemed to share their comrades' joy.

Winter and Ilia both blushed. It really had taken all these people to do this. But it worked.

Hope y’all liked it! I think this ship could be really cute, and I hope to see more of it. I hope this attempt at a date scene did them some justice :)

#ilia amitola #winter schnee #Atlas drop out #rwby #rwby fanfiction

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spartan2545 · 5 years

Text

Happily Ever After?

White Rose Week Day 5: Loss

General Audience

2050 Words

Links: AO3, FF

Link includes 2 other short one-shots

She couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t since it happened.

So much blood

Because every time she closed her eyes she relieved that horrible day.

Polished steel stained crimson and black

Three screams: An unholy, deafening wail. Her own cry of tortured agony.

And a muffled, pained yell.

A sound that would always haunt her. It still rang in her ears.

The piece fabric she clutched tightly in her arms the only small comfort she had on night such as this. But even this, most of it dyed a different hue than she knew it used to be, served as a dark reminder. A reminder of why she had it now at all.

“Please don’t go! Don’t leave me!”

“At least you're safe now. . .”

She would never forget the way tears mixed with blood.

The princess sat up in her dark room, only one candle driving away some of the shadows. Were it not for the walls being painted as white as her hair it would have still been too inky to see.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, again she felt the pull she had felt before. And again not sure if she was imagining that it felt like something else was pulling at her soul. She couldn’t convince herself it wasn’t her imagination; an excuse so she could cope with what she had done.

She tried to fight the urge, fight what she saw as her own selfishness. But she had tried before, so she knew she would lose and gave in quickly. The princess held out a shaking hand to the floor in front of her.

Magic lit the room in a pale glow, a large rune danced along the floor directly in front of her. A power she had once seen as a gift, but now it was a curse.

And from it arose a human figure, slightly larger and taller than herself, quickly taking form. Around its shoulders she gingerly placed the cloak she had been holding.

This was where it belonged anyway.

Now in front of her, all stained a light blue was something very familiar. Something that should have never been that color.

Someone she knew very well, and cared very dearly for.

And she could hardly bare to look upon what she had done.

The first time this had happened, she had wondered if it was really the woman she knew. Or if it a figment of her powers, imagination, and guilt. A mere copy like all of her other summons.

But when Blanche looked in to those silver eyes. Eyes that should have been blue, like on her and everything she created, she knew.

She knew that Garnet really was there.

Or part of her. . .

Her soul was at least. . . .

There had been no other way, she knew that.

But that didn’t make it hurt any less.

They had done it, completed their quest, but it was a terrible price to pay.

Even with all this, the smile looking back at her said that it was going to be okay.

But she couldn’t keep Garnet here. She shouldn’t. It wouldn’t be right, it wasn’t right.

That smile that Blanche knew she didn’t deserve.

It hurt to look at Garnet like this. A shadow of who she used to be.

The princess put on a soft smile, banishing the remorse and pain, instead letting show through the happiness she always felt seeing this woman, even now. It was so Garnet wouldn’t worry. She had hurt her enough already.

“H-hello Garnet,” She tried to keep her voice steady, to hide the sorrow.

Garnet smiled, and held up one finger. She was gone for a split second, but quickly found what she wanted; a quill and parchment.

Her voice was a privilege that Garnet no longer had.

Just one of so many things ripped away.

The quill moved as she wrote her reply.

Hey Blanche! How are you?

The penmanship was atrocious as always, but Blanche had long learned how to interpret those marks and had substantial practice doing so. Those little things brought back memories, memories now held even more dear now that they hurt.

“I’m fine,” She lied, though Blanche knew that the Garnet would be able to tell that it was, both because of how well they knew one another and Garnet’s condition. “How are you doing?” Blanche asked timidly, fearing the worst answer.

I’m doing okay. It still feels a little weird but I’m used to it. Was written in front of her.

You shouldn’t have to get used to this Blanche thought, guilt further seeping in to her. Loud scribbling pull her from those thoughts.

How’s your kingdom doing? The smile had never Garnet’s face, a sight that still brought more joy than pain. But the pain still came.

“It’s not my kingdom yet, the Queen is very much still alive and mother does plan to keep it that way for a while. Though it’s doing great,” Blanche said, thankful she didn’t have to lie this time, “With the evil gone, its prospering again. And everyone in the kingdom has you to thank for that.” Her eyes started to water, her mind drawn once again back to that day.

We did it together! You, me, Noir, Yin, and the others, none of us could have fought Salem alone.

But we all made it back. Blanche thought for a second before seeing Garnet write something else.

How is Yin doing?

That was the first time that Garnet looked concerned that day, a different sparkle in those silver eyes.

“It's been hard, but your sister’s doing okay,” That was an overstatement. Yin had taken this all as hard as Blanche had. If she didn’t have Noir to help her through it, they all may have lost two friends that day. She had made a promise, to herself and their mother, that she would protect Garnet. And at least to Yin, she had failed.

No thanks to me Seeing what it had done to Yin was terrible. Yet she had never blamed Blanche, saying that she understood there wasn’t a choice. Yin only sought fit to condemn herself, that she should have been able to do something.

“She and Noir are still the best guards and friends I could ever have.”

They were the only other people who knew about how Garnet was now. Though they hadn’t talked to or seen her. Unless garnet wanted to say goodbye, they didn’t want to make it any harder for her.

And Yin trusted Blanche with her sister, to do what Garnet wanted and what was best for her. The princess knew that even as a queen, she could never be given a higher honor.

Garnet again looked more at ease after hearing her sister was fine. But then she noticed Blanche.

The princess had tears running down her face, despite making an effort to stop them. A few fell to the paper below.

What’s wrong?

“I-. . I need to let you go.” Blanche was able to choke out, “You deserve to finally rest.” There lives had been hard, now at least one of them could stop fighting.

And so she put her head down and Blanche started to weep, now not an uncommon sight like it use to be.

For a moment the woman before her took a hold of her hands.

Every other summon felt cold, eternally frozen ice molded by the sorceress.

But Garnet was warm, like she had always been.

Hands again held hands when the quill stilled.

Do you want me here?

Blanche lifted her head to read those words, made difficult by her tears, the gloom, and the handwriting.

And the message made it all hurt even more. What could she say? What should she say?

On the face in front of her was only care and concern.

Garnet knew nothing else to feel for her friend, someone more than a friend, so clearly in need.

Blanche could always lie. She had many times before. But that never made anything better, so with what little strength she had she replied.

“I do.” Voice shaking, tears still falling, “But you shouldn’t stay here just for me. Not in this world that has already taken so much. You would never have to hurt again. Never have to fight again. You can be at peace.”

I made a promise didn’t I? The characters were bold, the smiling face adamant.

But it only served as another bittersweet reminder.

“We both did.” They had made that promise just before the end, just in case anything happened. But this wasn’t part of it.

I’ll stay with you as long as you need me.

And once again the words stung deeper than any wound she had received. And again she thought to lie; lies that Blanche didn’t were either selfish or selfless, but one that might make some of the guilt go away.

But Garnet deserved better than that.

Garnet’s face showed the unwavering conviction that she almost always had, especially now when she had to be strong for someone she cared for. It was one of the things Blanche adored about her so much.

“I-I. . . I think I always will.”

And Blanche looked into to silver once more, scared of any answer she might find. But their softness and the smile not far beneath revealed what Garnet was writing before the quill even stopped.

Then I’ll never leave you.

And the blue woman wrapped her arms around the princess, a warm embrace that they had both once feared they would never share again. Garnet freed one hand for a moment;

I love you.

How could so few words make so much torment go away?

“I love you too.”

And they had their happily ever after, not the one they had hoped, but they were happy.

After all, they had each other.

The Queendom would learn to live with one of their queens being blue.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ruby found herself a bit teary-eyed when she finished the story and closed her little story book.

The two children in front of her were still in a slight trance after having listened to intently.

And then she looked up for the first time in what was probably many minutes; to see her wife had returned from her errands with the amount of groceries one would expect for Ruby Rose and her offspring. Which meant it was a good thing she had the strength of a trained huntress.

How long she had been standing there, Ruby did not know.

“So you turned my worst nightmare about us in to a story for our kids?” Weiss asked somewhat amused.

“I don’t know what you are talking about. Neither of us are even in the story at all.” Ruby responded sheepishly, clearly not telling the whole truth, arms folded across her chest.

“The white-haired princess-sorceress ‘Blanche’ together with her partner turned girlfriend, a huntress named ‘Garnet’ go off and fight to save the world. Of course together with the huntress’s sister, a blonde brawler named ‘Yin’, and her eventual girlfriend, the cat faunus assassin Noir. Among many other things.” Apparently she had been standing there long enough. Weiss raised her eyebrow and looked inquisitively at her spouse.

Admittedly, it had not been hard to figure out. The children probably recognized it.

Still, Ruby grinned and blushed, looked somewhat embarrassed at having been found out.

“Well I still liked it,” Weiss said with a smile, “But it still is a school night,” looking to her now evidently sleepy children between the two of them “so you are both going to bed.” Turning her attention back to Ruby, “I’ll tuck them in while you put away the groceries”

The children made their complaints to going to sleep now, but they knew that it almost never worked so the whining was merely a token resistance. Weiss picked up the younger Wilda while Summer followed close behind up stairs. They were both in their pajamas already, so they just needed to be put to bed.

As Ruby listened to her wife whom she loved so dearly singing one of her lullabies in that sweet voice she loved so much, to their little whiterosebuds that she also loved with all her heart, Ruby wondered:

What had they done to deserve such a happily ever after?

Hope Y’all liked it! This is my first time posting so I hoped I did it right! :)

#white rose week #white rose #rwby #day 5

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