A Long Awaited Reunion (ch2)

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

Here's chapter 2, the reunion between Weiss Yang and Ruby! Along with a few added-in ideas from Tom at the end there.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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															Chapter 2.

"There's no such thing as magic..."

That's what she'd said at the time.

It's all she'd ever known after all, growing up in the life she led, with the father she had...

But how could she deny it after watching Yang's mother change forms so effortlessly, so fantastically?

It made her rethink more than a few things, that was for certain.

But there wasn't much time for all of that. Yang had already made her decision to leave, and Weiss wasn't particularly eager to stay in this camp that had kidnapped her.

So the second Yang pulls up on Bumbleby and catches her eye, the heiress climbs up behind her in a heartbeat. She wraps her arms around Yang and presses close, finally feeling safe again in this place full of strangers.

She barely spares Raven a second glance when she calls for Yang, but it's a curt conversation before Yang brings them through the portal.

Weiss has never been through one before, and this being her first makes her stomach churn a bit. There's an overall sense of distortion, fitting as it may be since they are traveling through warped time. Her grip must subconsciously tighten, because Yang sends a reassuring glance back at her.

"Don't worry. We won't be in here for long. Just take a deep breath."

Weiss closes her eyes and does as much, keeping as close to Yang as possible.

It isn't long before she can start hearing an odd jumble of sounds, voices among them, all of which are unfamiliar.

Until-

"Oh..."

The deep gruff voice is one Weiss can place fairly easily considering all the times he's been at her sister's throat in the past.

When she next opens her eyes, she finds herself in the exact same position behind Yang, but in a completely different world.

It's sunset here as well, but they aren't in some rouge camp any longer. It's a balcony, quiet and empty save for the man standing before them as they join him out of thin air.

The portal shrinks and closes behind them as Yang cuts the gas and pushes the kickstand down to park. She turns back to Weiss briefly, eyes kind.

"You okay?"

Weiss straightens herself up and releases her grip.

"Yes. Don't worry."

Yang swings her leg over the seat and hops off, then offers her hand to Weiss. She helps her to solid ground slowly, but Weiss can tell she's itching to face her uncle.

"Go, Yang."

The blonde holds her hand for a second longer, still smiling, then lets go. She turns to her uncle.

"Qrow..."

Weiss watches her run to her pleasantly-baffled uncle.

"Yang... and you brought the Ice Queen with you."

Weiss huffs but doesn't interject. Yang pauses a foot shy of her uncle.

"Yeah. Mom helped us, believe it or not."

"It's pretty damn hard to believe, let me tell you."

"I know. But we're here now. And I just-"

"Take it easy, kid. Your sister's inside with the others making dinner. You should go see her. You too, Ice Queen."

Weiss rolls her eyes, but a smile forms on her lips at the thought of seeing her partner once again. She hadn't planned on Yang's finding her, but the sight of her there back at that awful camp had surprised her to the point of disbelief long before she accepted it as reality.

But this time Weiss can prepare herself to see Ruby.

Even so, her heart is already pounding at the thought, knowing another long-awaited reunion is just a few minutes away now when it realistically should've taken her weeks to get here.

Weiss is pulled from her thoughts when Yang makes her way back to her and rests a soft hand on her shoulder. Weiss can tell her shoulders are tense and her jaw is tight.

"Well... shall we?"

Weiss doesn't know the full story of how Ruby had left Yang, but she can infer just how painful it was for the both of them judging by Yang's countenance now. The heiress reaches up to rest her hand over Yang's.

"Yes. Let's go see her, Yang."

Saying her name seems to snap the brawler out of her trance. Together they cross the balcony with Qrow trailing behind. When they reach the doors they have to pause and draw in a deep breath together.

Then, they push through and make their way toward the kitchen.

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"It sounds like we could use all the help we can get."

Ruby shifts the pan over the stove where she's been toiling next to Ren for the past twenty minutes. She's been so focused on her task of helping to make dinner that she barely even hears her uncle's voice call out from the hallway.

"I'm back."

"Be right there!" Ruby moves the pan more quickly, as if doing so will make the food heat up faster. From beside her, Ren's cautious voice cuts in.

"You're going to overcook that..."

"No I'm not, shut up!"

"Hey, uh, Ruby?" Qrow grunts.

"I'm comiiiiing!" She only turns her head back for a second to answer her uncle, and that's all it takes for the food in her pan to turn into a puff of black smoke. "Fine! You take over."

She leaves the food to Ren and gatherers a tray of tea cups they'd just finished preparing. With a smile she heads back to the living area.

Her eyes are focused on the kettle, her mind still buzzing from the food-prepping and the journey and a million other things. At least Qrow is back now.

"So we didn't know how many people were coming so we just cooked all of it."

The words come out in a cheerful, easygoing babble as she makes her way toward the little coffee table, intending to set down the tray. She looks up at her uncle casually-

But...

But it isn't just her uncle Qrow.

The sight of them has Ruby's heart stopping in her throat, her grip on the tray dwindling to nothing as her arms go limp at her sides. There's a crash and a shattering at her feet but she pays it no mind.

It feels like time has stopped. Like the whole world has stopped. Like all of these crazy wars and disappearances and fights against monsters have stopped.

It feels like she's been thrown into a fairytale or a dream or both.

Because two of the people she's been wanting to see more than anything for the past six months...

Two of the people who have composed some of the only thoughts in her mind for six months...

They're now standing right in front of her.

Just like that.

No warning, no hints, no expectations.

But here they are.

She hasn't seen them in so long, but she'd recognize them anywhere.

But that doesn't make this any... easier.

A torrent of emotions sweeps through her like a violent tide, battering her, pushing and pulling at her insides even though she's rooted in place. She can't move, not even when her big sister steps forward.

Ruby wants to run to her. She wants to run to her so quickly, more quickly than she's ever run before.

But she can't. She can't.

What if Yang yells at her to go away? What if she's angry? She has every right to be after what Ruby had done, abandoned her in her time of need, left her for Mistral...

Ruby's hands come to her chest, clutching, her entire body shaking uncontrollably.

Confusion, dread, apprehension, panic...

Those things drown out whatever relief and joy she wants to feel.

In the end, it all manifests in hot stinging tears and fumbling terrified words.

"...Yang, I... I-I'm so sorry! I-I should've stayed! A-And I should've talked to you more and- I-I should've... I wasn't sure if you wanted me around and-"

But all of that stops in an instant when she feels that familiar warm embrace.

Yang doesn't care for her guilt or her apologies. She only cares for her.

And Ruby's always known that somewhere deep down. She's just been too scared to remember.

But now, as she feels her big sister's arms wrap around her shoulders, pulling her in close to that nostalgic sense of comfort and security...

And her voice. It's so nice to hear her voice again.

"I love you."

She'd failed to say it half a year ago. When Ruby had timidly come into her room and said it to her, worriedly but truthfully. Yang had been too busy wallowing in her own self-loathing, her depression, her fear. She'd been so far down, so low, that she hadn't even been able to say those three words back to her little sister.

To the person she loved the most in this world.

It's been six months in waiting, but she finally starts doing things right and makes sure those are the first words Ruby hears from her now.

She realizes she needs to say it more often. Starting here and now.

Ruby chokes on a sob, lifting both arms shakily up as she finds refuge in the crook of Yang's shoulder.

"I love you, too..."

Her hands find clinging, trembling purchase on her sides, fingers curling in weakly, and yet with every defiant fiber of strength she has.

Ruby knows she shouldn't have left.

And Yang knows she shouldn't have let her go.

The room is silent as everyone stays put, all eyes trained on the two sisters. The sounds of their tearful, emotional reunion are all that fill the air.

And it feels like an eternity, or at least like those six months they'd spent apart, before they ease back.

In spite of the tears both sisters are smiling now. There's no need for apologies, no need for guilt or fear anymore.

Now Ruby can finally focus on the joy and the relief. The happiness swells up into another fresh burst of tears, and she has to bury her face in Yang's shoulder again just so she can see somewhat properly. It's so warm and safe in her arms. She feels a kiss being placed on her head.

This is real. Yang's here. She's really here.

And only now does Ruby remember she isn't alone.

With a small gasp she straightens up again, peeking timidly around her big sister and across the room.

Weiss.

Her best friend.

Her partner.

Weiss is just... standing back there, with her hands folded properly...

But her head is low, and Ruby can see the tears on her face as well. She's standing there as if she thinks she doesn't deserve to interfere, to impede on their moment. As if she'd hinder them in some way. As if she'd be a setback, an inconvenience.

Another surge of emotion fills Ruby's chest. She can only imagine what this must be like for Weiss. She probably hasn't seen Winter in a long time. She probably misses her big sister just as much as Ruby had missed her own, only now Ruby got to have hers back. It isn't like that for Weiss.

But while she may not have her sister... she has her teammates back now.

Ruby wants to remind her of that.

So she swallows back some of the sobs and sniffles, a smile already forming on her lips. Softly, gently, she calls for her.

"Weiss."

It prompts her partner to look up at last, to lift her face. Ruby doesn't miss the gasp that rises in Weiss' shoulders, as if being addressed had broken some kind of spell, some curse that assured her she'd never be welcome to join this moment.

But Ruby wants her in it more than anything.

Yang turns as well, and both sisters keep an arm around one another. But their free hands they extend toward Weiss.

And Ruby watches the loneliness in her partner's eyes melt away like ice in the sunlight. She smiles, and it's the most beautiful thing Ruby's ever seen.

Without a word, Weiss runs to them and throws her arms around them both. They catch her in sync, pulling her in close, reminding her she is a part of this, that she does deserve to be here with them in this moment.

The three of them stay close, pulling one another in and being pulled in themselves, sharing the warmth and the joy.

Until the shaking finally dies down. Until the tears finally stop.

As overwhelmed and overjoyed as Ruby is, she has so many questions. Keeping an arm around each of them, she draws back just a little.

"How... How did you guys find us?"

Yang eases back as well.

"It's... kind of a long story. We'll tell you soon, I promise. But first..."

She trails off, and Ruby follows her gaze to Weiss. Only now does she notice that her partner is covered in dirt and dust and bruises. Her pretty blue dress is smudged with evidence of an exhausting journey. And yet Yang is entirely spotless.

Concern for Weiss outweighs all else now in Ruby's mind. She slips away from her sister and puts both hands on her partner's shoulders.

"Weiss! Oh my gosh, you're hurt! Wh-What happened?"

"Ruby," Yang reminds her. "We'll talk over some supper. But for now..."

"R-Right! W-Weiss come with me!" Ruby slips an arm beneath Weiss' and across her back. Weiss blushes slightly as everyone else in the room watches.

"Ruby-"

"I'll help get you cleaned up and stuff. Uh, R-Ren, dinner?"

"On it."

With that the crowd disperses a bit, with most of them heading either into the kitchen to help with the food, or going to Yang to talk. Only Weiss and Ruby head elsewhere.

As she guides her partner, Ruby notices a change in Weiss now that no one else is watching. Her weight shifts unevenly in a heavy limp, and she flinches with every other step. Ruby is sure to compensate for her lack of balance, supporting Weiss as best she can while doing her best not to make contact with any part of her that's bruised or dirty.

She can't bear the silence, not when she's got so many questions, not when she's dying to hear Weiss' voice again. So as she leads her down the hallway, Ruby turns to her, voice low.

"Weiss... what... what happened to you... after Beacon...?"

She can feel Weiss tense up even as they're moving, can hear the sharp intake of breath and knows it isn't from her soreness this time. Weiss keeps her eyes trained ahead, but Ruby can see the glaze come over them. When she does reply, her voice is thin.

"A lot happened... I don't think there's time to discuss all of it right now. And I don't think I'm ready to yet. I don't want to remember those awful months..." Now she turns her head, eyes pleading as they bore into Ruby's. "I just want to be here right now."

Ruby almost chokes again. She can't imagine what could've happened to Weiss in the past six months that would make her react like this. But she isn't going to force her to talk about it if it will only cause her more pain.

"O-Of course! I get it. Really, I do. I'm sorry for asking."

"Don't be," Weiss sighs. "I'll tell you all about it soon, Ruby. Just perhaps... after a bath and some supper."

"Y-Yeah! Yeah, totally! That's okay."

By now they've reached the bathroom, and Ruby pauses. Ruby slips herself away from Weiss, carefully helping her partner lean back against the wall.

"You just wait here! I'll go get you some clean clothes and stuff!" With that she darts off and is back in a matter of seconds. "Here. You can go change and then gimme what you're wearing. There's a washing machine here and I'm pretty sure I know how to use it."

Weiss actually chuckles.

"Thank you, Ruby."

She turns to head into the bathroom, but Ruby anxiously steps after her.

"A-Are you gonna be okay to change and stuff? How bad are you hurt?"

"I'll manage," Weiss soothes her.

Ruby takes a step back again.

"Okay. I-I'll be here. Just call if you need me."

"I will."

The door closes with Weiss inside, and Ruby leans back against it. Now that she's alone for a moment, she tries to let everything sink in.

Yang is here. Weiss is here. Like a dream come true. Like a miracle. They're suddenly right here with her now. After all this time wishing it could happen.

Wishing, hoping, praying... But never being able to actually do anything to help make it happen.

She'd run off, and part of her had always wished Yang would follow her, would just show up suddenly like this one day. Ruby had planned out what she'd say if it ever did happen, but when it really did, she'd forgotten every word.

But it doesn't matter anymore.

A smile has already formed on her lips again just thinking about it, how Yang had come for her after all, and even had Weiss with her. But she still wants to know why her sister was unharmed and why Weiss was hurt.

The last time Ruby had heard about her partner had been six months ago, from Yang herself. How after the battle at Beacon, Weiss' father had come for her and taken her away.

As her partner and as her friend, Ruby knows Weiss. She knows she must've been living miserably all that time, suffocated beneath her father's boot just like she'd always been. She knows she must've run away, must've gotten tangled up in some fight or another, must've been so scared...

"Ruby?"

"Y-Yes?"

"I'm finished."

"O-Okay! I'm coming in then."

She pushes her way in, and seeing Weiss standing there dressed in a fresh set of clean clothes is almost like witnessing another miracle. Part of Ruby had expected Weiss to have vanished.

But she's still here, now wearing a light sweater and skirt the same length of her dress, one that still fails to cover the bruises on her legs.

Almost guiltily she hands Ruby her dirty clothes, as if she's embarrassed at the notion of having gotten hurt, and now of having to be taken care of. Ruby accepts the clothes and is already moving back out the door.

"I'll go put them in the wash. I'll be back in a sec!"

And with that she darts off again, hurriedly dropping Weiss' clothes into the washing machine and fiddling with everything until she's pretty sure she's done it correctly, then racing back to the bathroom.

She finds Weiss still standing there like a wish come true, still waiting.

She's always been waiting.

Ruby's kept her waiting long enough.

Slowly, she closes the door behind herself and makes her way to her partner. Without a word, Weiss opens her arms.

Ruby falls softly against her chest, wrapping her arms around her waist and back, trying not to squeeze too tightly, but also wanting to let her know just how desperately she's wanted to hold her all this time. She tucks her face into the side of Weiss' neck, relishing the feeling of being close to her at long last.

Weiss hugs her in turn, pulling Ruby close with an almost ardent gentleness, hiding her face in her shoulder.

It had felt so wonderful getting to see Yang again. But there's something wonderful in its own unique way about getting to see Ruby – her partner.

She draws in a breath, bracing herself to voice her feelings when Ruby beats her to it.

"Weiss, I... I missed you so much..."

They're the same words Weiss had given Yang. The heiress smiles and closes her eyes.

"I missed you too, Ruby. Very much..."

And maybe it's the relief of it all, or maybe it's the ache spreading through her body, or maybe it's both, but she sways. She sways, but Ruby is quick to steady her with a surefire embrace.

"Weiss! Take it easy!"

Carefully, slowly, Ruby helps her sit down on the edge of the bathtub. She sits beside Weiss, keeping a hand on her back to prevent her from leaning back too much in her state of unbalance.

She notes right away how Weiss' arms cross and how her hands cover her sides and arms, how her breathing hardens. Whatever had happened must've been recent, recent enough that Weiss hadn't really had the time to stop and activate her aura to heal herself before Yang had brought her here.

So Ruby activates hers first, emitting the healing essence onto Weiss' back, letting it spread and flow.

And Weiss feels it, feels the trickling warmth that only Ruby could ever give her.

It reminds her to use her own aura now, reminds her how to breathe. Slowly but surely the aches begin to fade, and she isn't afraid to lean back into Ruby's touch for support.

Ruby waits as long as Weiss needs her to, only withdrawing her hand when she's sure Weiss won't sway again. She reaches for her own collar and unclasps her cloak without a second thought, as if it weren't the most precious thing in the world to her. She removes it effortlessly and drapes it over Weiss' shaking shoulders instead.

It elicits a gasp from the heiress. She can't remember the last time she saw Ruby, let alone without her cloak. It's the first time she's ever known her to give it to someone else, though.

Shocked, confused, and touched all at the same time, Weiss holds it in place against her chest as her eyes return to her leader.

"Ruby..."

There's so much she wants to say and do, so much she's wanted to say and do for so long now. But in the end, all Weiss manages is to throw her arms around Ruby's shoulders all over again.

"Thank you..."

More tears slip free, and she isn't even sure why. But she isn't trying to stop them. Not anymore.

Knowing that the worst of Weiss' injuries have now healed, Ruby doesn't hold anything back. She locks both arms around her sides and back, squeezing her close.

"Weiss... you don't need to thank me... I'm just... so glad you're okay... that you're here..." She covers Weiss with her arms and her cloak, making sure she knows that whatever she's been through until now is over, that she's safe now. Weiss finally accepts that reality, too.

"I wasn't sure... if I'd ever get to see you or Yang again. I'm still not sure if I'll get to see Blake-"

"You will," Ruby stops her. "We all will. I'm sure of it."

Weiss sighs and nods against her shoulder. And now that she's safe and she knows it, the memories of the times when she wasn't come spilling out in words.

"After Beacon... my father took me back home. I had to do what he wanted again. I couldn't do anything for myself... So I ran away. As foolish as it was, I ran away..."

She stops, but Ruby knows she isn't finished yet. She whimpers softly, running her hands up and down Weiss' back until her partner is ready to continue.

"The ship I took got attacked by Grimm and it crashed. Yang's mother found me. She put me in a cage and... promised to ransom me back to my father... That's when Yang showed up and thwarted my efforts of a quiet escape."

Ruby is still tense from hearing that Weiss had been in an air ship crash only to be kidnapped directly afterward. But then hearing about how Yang had found her, even by coincidence, is already making her feel better. Because Ruby knows how this story ends.

Even so, Weiss is determined to finish it.

"Your Aunt... Raven... she told us about the Grimm, about Salem. And she showed us-" But here she cuts off, easing back until she can meet Ruby's eyes once again. "Well, I'm sure Yang and your uncle will tell you everything in a few minutes."

"Y-Yeah." Ruby agrees, realizing that Weiss is getting upset just by thinking about everything again like this. That's the last thing Ruby wants for her right now.

So she just pulls her in again and sighs in the utmost relief of finally having her back.

Weiss stays with her like that for a few moments, relishing the quiet embrace, the feeling of being safe and loved again.

Ruby doesn't let go either. She just savors the feeling of holding Weiss and of being held by her. She savors her scent, her touch, and the feeling of Weiss' heartbeat against her own.

Only when they both sense they should be heading back out to the others do they slowly ease apart. Their eyes meet, the last of the tears having fallen by now, lips curved into smiles.

Ruby notices one last small cut on Weiss' temple and she doesn't hesitate to heal it with a small kiss. Weiss reciprocates with a tender kiss to her partner's forehead.

At last Ruby stretches her legs and gets to her feet.

"Well, I hope you're hungry! We made a lot of food!" She offers her hand to her partner and grins.

Weiss smiles. She holds onto Ruby's cloak with one hand and reaches for her palm with the other.

"Dinner sounds wonderful."

Ruby helps her up, wasting no time in slipping an arm around her again. Weiss stays close to her as they make for the door and start down the hallway side by side.

Not half an hour ago, Weiss had been shown something that made her believe in magic.

But now she believes in miracles, too.

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A/N: This is the second of (hopefully?) three reunions! I feel canon did great with Ruby/Weiss/Yang's reunion and hug, but I wanted a Ruby/Weiss exclusive hug and conversation so that's what I added in here.

I don't think the characters even know all the crap Weiss went through. Did she actually get to tell them all? We hardly saw/heard anything from her in canon and I hate just being left to assume. I wanted to see Ruby hearing about all of this and just giving Weiss a hug for goodness' sake.

Well, as of now episode 11 has just torn through the fandom, but hopefully I'll get to write the Blake reunion sometime soon...