Promises Kept (ch4)

EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS!

This is kinda rewinding from the previous chapter. This is back during the Leviathan fight between Ruby and Weiss.

It's White Rose Wednesday!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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														Chapter 4.

Ruby knows this is the only way, that Weiss is her only hope. All she does is make eye contact with her and Weiss understands instantly. She draws her rapier, casts her glyph, and summons her Grimm. But before Ruby jumps, she crouches down beside her partner and puts a hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks, Weiss."

"Don't distract me, you dolt." Weiss raises her head, but her eyes are only filled with affection and concern. "Be careful, Ruby. Please."

"I'll do my best. But I know you'll be there supporting me a hundred percent of the way, so I'll be fine!"

Weiss smiles.

"Yes. You will be. Now go."

"I'll be back before you know it!"

And with this she brushes past Yang and Nora, and jumps onto the back of the hornet.

Weiss steers her toward the Leviathan. Ruby has no trouble at all staying balanced in spite of the speed she's traveling at and all of the commotion and fighting happening all around her. She knows it's all thanks to Weiss.

Even though the heiress is as low as the rest of them on aura, she's still mustering up the last of her strength and energy to get Ruby to where she needs to be. Ruby knows she has to end this quickly, for Weiss' sake as well as everyone else's.

So when she pulls up the memories from the bottom of her heart – of all the places and people she longs to protect – Weiss appears in her mind. Over and over.

Making her sugary coffee, casting glyphs for her, catching her when she falls, covering her blind side, taking a hit for her.

Weiss is always there. Supporting her even when Ruby can't see her. Like she is right now.

Weiss is one of the many people Ruby thinks of to activate her powers. Without Weiss, Ruby might not have had enough passion, enough reason, enough desire to protect all that she loves.

And without Weiss, she certainly wouldn't have been able to get close to the beast and use her eyes like she does after Jinn has bought her some time.

Once Cordovin finishes the Leviathan, Ruby sways as her vision comes back to her. But the summoning beneath her feet moves perfectly in sync with her to prevent her from falling. She is flown slowly back to the ship that hovers nearby, where all of her friends are waiting for her.

They welcome her with cheers and open arms, one by one. Yang hugs her, then Blake, and finally...

Ruby watches as Weiss cancels her glyph at long last, only now that she's certain Ruby is on solid ground. She pushes herself up, using Myrtenaster as a crutch, panting as she finds her balance. Weiss' knees buckle, but no one else notices right now.

"Weiss!"

With a soft cry of her name, Ruby uses her speed to dart directly to her partner's side in half a second, catching her and holding her up. Weiss shakes her head slowly, still breathing hard, but when she looks up, her blue eyes shimmer with relief.

"Ruby... thank goodness." Weiss drops her rapier and wraps both arms around her partner. Ruby squeezes her back tightly and nestles into her collar.

"Sorry," she mumbles. "I made you push yourself so hard when you were already so exhausted. Does it hurt?"

Weiss just rests her chin atop Ruby's head and sighs.

"It'll pass. I'm just glad you made it out in one piece. You saved us, Ruby. You saved Argus."

"I couldn't have done it without you. I couldn't have done a lot of things without you." Ruby eases back and looks up into her eyes with a heartfelt smile. "Thanks, Weiss."

Weiss almost chides her again, or says she doesn't need the gratitude, or insists it's her who should be thanking Ruby.

But just this once, she lets herself bask in the appreciation her partner shows for her. Weiss closes her eyes and brushes her cheek against Ruby's.

"You're welcome, you dunce."

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A/N: So uh yeah when will we get the return of Weiss calling Ruby "dunce" and "dolt" and "dork", only now that they're much closer they'll be endearing and humorous words? I miss that.

Tomorrow is Bumbleby Thursday!