Family (ch5)

2-DAY EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS! THANK YOU!

So this one is a reward for one of my patrons Archimedes the Arrogant. I'm keeping this in my volume 7 collection because it just fits, even if it isn't centered on Weiss like the others.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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												Chapter 5. Good Company

At some point after the fiasco at the polls and before Jacques Schnee's banquet, the dorms at Atlas Academy actually experience a quiet hour of peace.

Blake almost doesn't believe it at first. She's half expecting to receive a call from Ironwood ordering her on some brief mission to gather intel or stake out a certain area, or any number of other things. But as the minutes in Team RWBY's dorm room tick on, no such call comes, for any of them.

It seems her teammates are all equally cautious of the peace and quiet. No one is exactly relaxing, but rather are alert, as if expecting orders at any given time.

Ruby is half-heartedly playing games on her scroll, Weiss is reading something on hers, Yang is doing some stretches, and Blake herself is trying to read a book of her own, though the words don't really configure or make any sense with how distracted she is.

The four of them are engulfed by an awkward silence, but as more and more minutes pass that don't require them to take any action, they gradually begin to do something they really haven't done in their waking hours since their arrival in Atlas - relax.

When another moment passes and still no one has disturbed them, Blake's ears flick at the sound of Ruby clearing her throat.

"Ahem, so uh… since we've kinda got a bit of free time, anyone wanna play a game with me?" She looks expectantly down at her sister, who is just finishing up stretching her arms behind her back.

"Oh," Yang says. "I was actually about to hit the shower. But I'll play as soon as I'm done, kay?"

"Okay!" Ruby agrees. "How about you, Blake?"

Blake slides her legs over the edge of her bunk and gets to her feet.

"Actually, I think I might take a walk. Just wanna move around a bit."

"As if we don't do enough moving on all these missions," Yang chuckles.

Blake shrugs.

"Guess it's becoming a new habit."

"All righty then," Ruby claps. "That leaves only one option: Weiss, you're gonna have to play with me!"

"Am I?" The heiress rolls her eyes, but there's a smile on her lips. "Fine, but you've got to explain the rules in a way I can understand."

"Sure!" Ruby jumps down from her bunk to join Weiss on hers, excitedly waggling her scroll in her hands. "Okay, so first…"

As she starts babbling Weiss' ear off, Blake and Yang share a glance, then a quick kiss. Then, Yang heads into the bathroom and Blake goes to the door, taking the book with her as an afterthought.

She's learned enough from her tours with Penny to be able to remember how to get to the common area, and being that school isn't exactly in-session right now, Blake hopes to find a quiet spot to spend her unorthodox free time at.

In a matter of minutes she reaches the common area, complete with various couches, tables, chairs, and a large fireplace, which is softly crackling away even now in spite of any real students. Blake scouts out the area briefly, but has already decided she's inclined to a certain spot more than others.

She chooses a love seat near to the fire where she'll be able to feel a bit of the warmth, but not too much. She sits down, sinking back into the cushions and adjusting her legs however works best, shifting around a bit until she's satisfied. With a happy sigh, she opens the book in her lap and begins to immerse herself.

It's the first time in a very long while that she's been able to actually sit down and enjoy a book. The last time probably hadn't been since she'd been back home, and even then there'd been the risk of Sun barging in.

It feels almost strange to be able to have some time to herself right now. And that's something Blake never would have minded before going to Beacon.

Knowing she'll return to her friends soon enough, Blake enjoys her time alone for a while, allowing the ambiance of the room to sweep her into the story of fantastical wartime history. She's really able to get invested knowing that she isn't going to be called upon for something halfway through.

For close to half an hour, Blake enjoys herself.

That's when a sound slightly different from the crackling of the fire catches her ear. She pauses in her story and looks up across the common room, ears lifting in surprise at her quiet, unexpected visitor.

"Ren!"

He lingers in the threshold in an air of polite awkwardness, dipping his head in greeting.

"Good evening, Blake. So you're enjoying the peace and quiet too, I take it?"

"Yeah," she nods. "Never know when you'll have another opportunity like this."

"Right you are. Would you mind if I joined you?"

Blake notices he, too, has a book tucked under his arm. She smiles.

"Not at all."

Now, truth be told, Blake likely would have said yes to nearly anyone who might've asked to join her in such a situation if they'd been back at school at Beacon right now. She would've said yes to any random classmate or acquaintance who had chanced upon her.

But Ren is one of the very few people whom she would be genuine with in her response. His is a presence she truthfully doesn't mind - even in her precious alone time - and in fact, she actually quite enjoys his company.

As Ren decides on taking a seat on a nearby couch, Blake muses to herself about the past. It hadn't been often, but she'd found herself in situations like this with him a handful of times before, usually at Beacon's old common area or in the library.

Whenever it had been Blake who came upon him, she would sit at a respectable but comfortable distance, enough to chat but not distract. And when it had been Ren who came upon her, he would always show the same kindness.

The spot he's chosen now is perfect enough that it won't pull Blake from her reading reverie should he shift or move about, but close enough that she'll still be able to comfortably engage in conversation if need be.

But being that Blake is reminiscing at the moment, she watches him, and as soon as he glances up their eyes meet. Both smile.

"Just like old times, huh?" she says.

"Indeed." His voice has a wistful tone in it, which is something Blake feels in her bones. "It's been quite a while, hasn't it?" he continues. "Since we've had the chance to just sit down and read like this."

"Yeah," she agrees. "One on hand, it's been so long… but on the other, it almost feels like we were back at Beacon just last week or something."

"I understand what you mean," he nods. "A lot has changed." He gives a thoughtful smile as he glances down at his book and then over at hers. "But I suppose, a lot hasn't."

Blake chuckles.

"I guess you're right. We bookworms always manage to find a way back to our hobbies, don't we?"

"Indeed we do."

A moment passes, and the fire continues snapping. Blake assumes the conversation has naturally died off and they'll both turn to their books for a time now. But just before she can return her gaze to the pages, Ren goes on.

"So… I, uh… I wanted to ask you about something."

Blake's ears flick and perk up again, giving him her full attention.

"Sure. Anything."

Ren flips his fingers awkwardly against the corners of the pages, his eyes darting around the room as he tries to figure out the best way to word whatever it is he wishes to say.

Blake feels a warmth spread through her chest. She remembers when she'd been that bashful and awkward to talk to someone. Ren had always been a bit left-footed when conversing with people other than his closest friends and teammates, and even with Blake herself.

But she doesn't mind one bit. She waits patiently for him to configure his speech, listening as he finally clears his throat.

"Well, I didn't want to assume, but… you and Yang…?"

Blake's heart does a little dance when he mentions it. Since she and Yang had grown closer, this is the first time someone has actually said it out loud to her. It's very different from how Ruby and Weiss would just give her knowing looks. Flustered, Blake reaches up to fiddle with her hair, a habit she'd never lost even after she'd cut her tresses.

"Oh, uh, actually-"

"It's fine if you don't want to tell me," he says quickly. "It isn't my business."

"No. It's all right," Blake says calmly. "I'm actually kind of glad you're asking. I think it's kind of nice to be able to say it out loud." She trails off smiling, and when Ren next looks at her he ends up cracking a tiny smile as well.

"So then, does that mean you two are…?"

Blake nods.

"Yes. We are."

And though neither of them had really even said any concrete words, the implications are clear enough. Blake's chest feels all fuzzy and happy, and her heart keeps doing little backflips.

"That's wonderful," Ren smiles. "Then I believe some congratulations are in order."

"Thanks." Blake looks back down at her book again, not thinking she'll be able to maintain eye contact in such a conversation right now when her heart is such a giddy mess. There's something very different about finally getting to verbally address a relationship that was previously exclusively expressed only through looks and actions.

Another moment passes, and Blake exhales a long breath as her heart finally begins too slow down a little. That's when Ren clears his throat again.

"I'm very happy for you two. I… actually wanted to ask, not only to ensure I didn't make any assumptions, but also too…" He trails off as though he can't find the right words to go on saying what he wants to say. Blake leans forward attentively, now having completely forgotten about the book in her lap.

"What is it?"

Ren flashes her a glance for half a second, then looks down at the carpet. Blake quickly continues.

"It's all right if you don't want to tell me, though. I understand."

"No," he chuckles. "No. It's quite all right. Oddly enough, I feel like I can talk to you most comfortably about this, before even Jaune."

Blake tilts her head a little, curious as to what this could be about. She doesn't want to rush or pressure him, though, so she waits another moment for him to piece together what it is he wants to say.

"Actually," he manages at last. "I think that… Nora and I… are the same way as you and Yang are now…"

Blake doesn't mean to be rude, but she can't stop herself from gasping outright, hands abandoning her book and instead flying up to her mouth. Her heart backflips again and her ears stand tall.

"Oh my gosh!" she whispers excitedly. "Really…?"

Ren covers his own mouth with the back of his hand and nods.

"Yes."

"Oh…"

Blake can't properly describe the wave of joy that comes rushing through her. She'd never wanted to assume about Ren and Nora either, though she was certain most people who knew them already figured they were official from the get-go. At the very least, Blake and her teammates, had kept quiet, though Yang had brought it up once or twice when they were in the privacy of their own room.

Blake had never felt the need to ask either Ren or Nora directly, as she knew it really wasn't any of her business. But now, for Ren to come confide in, and confess, to her makes her so unspeakably happy.

"That's wonderful," she says softly. "I'm so happy for the two of you. I'll be honest… I didn't know it was like that between you two."

"You know," he says. "For the longest time, I didn't think so either. But… things change, I guess."

"Yes they do," she agrees. "Congratulations, Ren."

"Thank you. I'm honestly not sure how to go about things with her from here on out, but…"

"Neither do I," she confesses. "But, I think the best way to do it is… to not really think too much about it, you know? It's okay to just let things happen however feels right."

Ren closes his eyes for a moment of personal meditation, giving her words some proper thought. After a moment he opens his eyes again.

"Yes, I think you're right, Blake. Overthinking these sort of things never seems to work all that well. Perhaps it's better to rely on feeling a bit more." He sighs, seeming a lot more comfortable now that he'd gotten that out into the open.

Blake understands it must have been as much of a relief for him to talk about his relationship as it was for her to discuss her own. She entertains a few thoughts, and doesn't fully realize it when they begin to leak from her lips.

"It's kind of amazing," she murmurs. "How even quiet, introverted people like us could find something as wonderful and exotic as love… And not just the romantic kind."

"Yes, I agree," he nods. "All my life I've had Nora, and I've always loved her in some way or another - now it's two ways at once, I suppose. But... I never really thought I would find such good friends and be able to get along with them."

"Me neither," she admits. "I... never thought I could love anyone the right way after what Adam showed me… I didn't think I could love anyone as a friend, let alone more than that… But now, somehow, I have Ruby and Weiss and Yang, and all of you… Every day with you all is like a dream come true, really."

"I have to say I agree once again." He reflects her smile from his seat as the fire continues dancing, filling the room with its soft orange glow.

Blake eases back into her chair. She isn't quite sure what it is she's feeling right now, this warm, content melancholy air surrounding her. It's something she's never felt before - not exactly like this, anyway. Just the feeling of getting to talk with someone like her, someone she trusts and knows so well.

She and Ren have always been kindred spirits, and evidently they are continuing to progress as such.

They both take the unspoken cue and settle in to begin reading, comfortably getting lost in their own little worlds together. They enjoy themselves just like old times, savoring that bittersweet nostalgia with a much warmer component to it now.

They must read for close to an hour before Blake's ear catches something. Within a minute, familiar footsteps are heading their way. Ren looks inquisitively up at her, and with a hopeless smile, Blake closes her book, which is her way of telling him, "that's all for today." Just as he's closing his book as well, their teammates finally appear.

"Found em'!" Ruby cheers.

"There you are!" Nora blurts out. "Have you two seriously been here all evening?"

"I'm sure they liked the peace and quiet," Weiss sighs.

"Come on you, two," Yang says, holding out her hand invitingly. "Let's get some dinner."

Blake and Ren share one last private glance with one another, as well as one more smile.

Then, they close their books and leave them behind for now as they join their friends together.

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A/N: We never get to see much (if any) of these two in canon, do we? I remember writing a couple little things for them back in the early days and I honestly just love writing out these less 'popular' friendships.

Thanks so much to Archimedes for the prompt!