Promise

Hello, all! Back at it again with volume 7! I just wanted to whip up a tiny little something for the premiere episode cuz I've missed writing RWBY and have been dying to come up with new canon-related content.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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													Chapter 68. Promise

Ruby does her best to remain as calm and composed as possible in spite of what had just happened.

As the leader of Team RWBY, she's learned to become a bit better at controlling her emotions over the years, a bit better at keeping a clear head. Even if she's terrified on the inside, she wants to try and show a strong face for her teammates and friends.

But as they're all loaded into the back of a military ship with their hands bound and weapons confiscated from them, she struggles to keep her cool. And it's less because they'd taken away Crescent Rose and the Relic, and more because they've jeopardized a promise she'd made.

"Team RWBY won't leave your side for a second."

Weiss had warned them that if their group got caught, she may very well be taken back to her father. Even though Ruby knows Blake and Yang had vehemently denied that possibility in their minds just like she had at the time… Now they were here, already in-transit to who-knows-where.

For all Ruby knows, they could be taking them straight to Weiss' father right now.

Ruby feels sick with worry for her partner, sick with disgust at what Weiss' father might to do her after she'd run away, sick with despair at the possibility that she might have her promise broken, just like that.

She's still determined to to everything within her power to prevent such a thing from happening. Even if the doors did open to reveal Weiss' father, Ruby would leap up and fight him even with her hands tied, and she knows all the others would do the same.

Even so, she really hopes that won't happen, but the fact that it's now a real possibility is making her incredibly anxious.

The back of the ship is quiet for the most part, though she can hear her uncle muttering possibly escape plans to Jaune on the other side of benches. When she looks to her left, she can see Yang hunched over, her leg bouncing nervously. Blake's ears have gone flat as she tries to comfort her. Past them is Oscar, looking humbled and stoic.

And all the way at the end, as far away from her as possible, is Weiss. Ruby can barely even see her beyond a flash of white hair and a glimpse of her dress.

She hates this. She hates this so much. As soon as those doors open up again, Weiss is going to be the first one in the line of fire, the first one to face whatever or whoever is on the other side.

Ruby already feels like she's breaking her promise having been loaded into the ship first. She's already left Weiss' side for far too long.

So as the ship takes off, Ruby cautiously gets to her feet. Weiss is looking away, out the sliver of window of the ship's back door, her posture straight and knees together. To anyone else she might appear to be composed. But to Ruby, she's almost painfully stiff. She's nervous. She's scared.

Ruby looks away from her partner only for a second to mutter to Blake and Yang. They look up at her, realize her intent, and quietly slide down to fill in her vacant spot. Ruby next goes to Oscar, quietly requesting he get up just for a second.

All the while, Weiss never notices the shifting going on behind her. It's as though she's trapped in a trance - a curse - unable to look away from where she might be going back to…

Until-

"Weiss."

Ruby's voice comes softly, gently. So sweetly it's just enough to pull Weiss from her frightened reverie.

She looks back to find they've all moved around, Oscar and Ruby on their feet now. Even though Ruby's hands are tied like the rest of theirs, she offers them out to Weiss.

Weiss looks up at her, and for a moment she's confused. But then, for some reason, she feels tears begin to well up.

She quickly buries her face in against her shoulder and gets to her feet. Oscar takes her spot closest to the doors, and Ruby guides Weiss away. Ruby sits down next to Oscar, then has Weiss sit in the middle, with two friends on either side of her now.

Though it's a little awkward given the circumstances, Ruby puts a hand on Weiss' arm for support. On Weiss' other side, Yang has sat up to give the heiress a reassuring smile, and Blake does the same.

Weiss looks to each of them, and then back to her leader.

Ruby smiles.

"I promised, didn't I?"

She scooches in a little closer, brushing up against Weiss until the heiress can lean against her. Yang does the same thing on Weiss' other side, offering her support.

Weiss can't describe what comes over her, but when she bows her head, a few tears fall. Ruby moves her hands down to cover hers, warm and gentle.

Weiss hiccups softly. The message is clear. They're here for her, just as they'd promised. They aren't going to leave her. No matter what happens, they'll be here with her.

Ruby holds Weiss' hands as she cries softly, so softly the group sitting across from them might not even notice if they aren't looking. Ruby leans closer to her, wishing more than anything that she could hug her right now. She does her best.

After a moment, Weiss' tears come to a halt. She inhales a bit shakily, but slowly straightens herself up again, not as rigidly as before, but into something a bit more comfortable. She looks first to Blake and to Yang in turn, giving them each a small, grateful nod.

Then she looks to Ruby, caring and determined as always. Weiss musters up her voice, as raspy as it may be, and uses it for her.

"Thank you."

Ruby gives her hands another squeeze and leans in against her once more. Yang does the same, and Weiss knows Blake is sending her support down the line as well.

She never thought she'd be coming back to Atlas of her own volition, and if she ever did get apprehended with the possibility of being brought back to her father, she never thought she'd be able to close her eyes and breathe, and believe everything was going to be all right somehow.

And yet, here she is.

Her team is going to keep their promise.

Whatever happens next, Weiss is prepared to face it with them.

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A/N: Seriously though, why were Ruby and Weiss spaced literally as far apart as possible? Ugh. If we don't get some kind of scene of R_BY defending Weiss against her dad, I swear...

Also just wanted to throw in a little scene of Weiss thanking Ruby for all her support thus far. I really don't know why RT isn't letting her show some appreciation for her. It's not that hard. But anyway-