Promises Kept (ch3)

EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS!

Okay so a lot of these chapters are going to feel redundant or out-of-order cuz I keep doing the same scenes but for different characters so just keep that in mind haha

It's RWBY Tuesday!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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														Chapter 3.

Once all is said and done, and their ship is well on its way to Atlas, most everyone on board has fallen silent to rest and recover for as long as the flight will allow.

There isn't enough room on the bench for all of team RWBY, so they opt for the floor across from the others. Jaune Ren Nora and Oscar have closed their eyes for the time being, while Qrow and Maria continue steering and chatting softly. Ruby has just finished talking with them a little more, and retreats to find her three teammates resting side by side.

They're all still awake, just barely. Yang is holding one of Blake's hands with hers, and Blake is holding Weiss' with her free hand. Ruby walks quietly over to take her place next to Weiss, who has clearly been waiting for her. The heiress offers her unoccupied hand expectantly, and Ruby gladly accepts.

"So," she says softly. "How's everyone feeling?"

"Eh, y'know," Yang shrugs. "Been better, but been worse. Definitely been a lot worse." She gives a squeeze to Blake's hand and shares a quiet smile with her before returning the question to her little sister. "What about you, Ruby? Doesn't using your eyes like that tire you out?"

"I mean, it used to," she recalls. "But now I think I'm getting the hang of it, so I know how to control it better. I'm just a little tired is all. But I think we're all the same way."

The others nod in agreement and shift a little closer together. Ruby covers Weiss' hands with hers. Her partner has been particularly quiet since the fighting had stopped. Even now, Weiss is looking down at her lap as if lost in her own mind. Ruby nudges her softly and rests her head on the heiress' shoulder.

"Weiss? Are you okay? I know going back to Atlas isn't exactly on the top of the list of things you wanna do right now..."

Weiss blinks out of her reverie, Atlas and her father having been precisely what was on her mind. She lifts her head and gently brushes her cheek against Ruby's.

"I'm fine. After all, I know you won't leave my side for a second."

Ruby nods.

"Right. It's a promise."

Weiss closes her eyes for a second and just breathes. She's never felt so safe in the skies leading to Atlas in all her life.

After a moment, she lets Ruby rest and turns her attention to the girl on her other side. Weiss squeezes Blake's hand gently and seeks out her eyes.

"What about you? Is everything all right...? Or at least, as all right as it can be...?"

Blake meets her eyes; the eyes of the girl whose father had played such a major role in pushing Adam down the path that Blake herself had put an end to today. She and Weiss had had such an awful start back at Beacon. She almost can't believe they're here now together, hand in hand. Blake smiles.

"Yeah. It still hurts, but... I know I'll get through it. I have you guys, after all."

Blake eases forward a little to rest her head against Weiss'. The heiress' grip on her hand slackens a little, as if she feels guilt for all of what her father had done. But Blake doesn't allow her to let go. She keeps ahold of Weiss' hand more tightly, until the heiress strengthens her grip once more.

They ease apart, eyes calm and trusting. Weiss turns to rest her head with Ruby's again as Blake turns to Yang. Her heart flutters a bit as she finds lavender eyes.

"How's your arm...?" She looks down at the deep scratches Adam had made in her prosthetic.

Yang smiles.

"Lemme test it out." She curls and uncurls her prosthetic fingers, until they've laced themselves perfectly between Blake's. Yang rests her forehead against hers and murmurs, "I think it's fine."

Blake lets out a soft chuckle and closes her eyes. Yang opens hers to look down the line to her little sister, napping cozily with Weiss now. She can't detect any signs of fatigue worse than what any of the rest of them are showing, but Yang fears in her heart that Ruby's eyes might be taking some other kind of toll on her, perhaps internally.

But seeing her now, dozing so peacefully, drooling a little against Weiss' shoulder, Yang can't help but smile. They'd all be here to help make sure Ruby didn't endanger herself unnecessarily, especially when it came to her eyes.

Yang leans back against the wall fully, still nuzzled against Blake. She gives three good squeezes to Blake's hand; a message.

Blake understands. She passes it down to Weiss, who is gently roused by the pressure. She smiles and transfers three squeezes onto Ruby's hand.

"From Yang," she whispers.

Ruby stirs against her shoulder and opens her eyes. Her lips curve up into a tired grin as she looks over at her big sister.

"I love you, too," she says.

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A/N: I'm so glad for all the little interactions between all of the girls. I want more, both in the heat of battle and just casually too. Please, volume 7.

Tomorrow is White Rose Wednesday!