Chapter Text
Dust til Dawn corporate office
Yang Xiao Long, everyone's favorite delivery girl, walks in the Dust til Dawn office building with a bag of food. She heads straight for the front desk, finding no one insight to help her. So, she rings the service bell.
Nothing.
And again.
Ding, ding, ding, ding—
"Enough!" Weiss Schnee, the company's secretary, screeches at the woman. "Yang, I swear to God, you're the worst deliverer in Vale."
"The city or the kingdom?"
"Realistically, the city, but I wouldn't be surprised if your status applied to the entire kingdom."
Yang smirks at Weiss's jab, "Well, you're not all sunshine and rainbows yourself, Ice Queen."
"What do you want?"
"Ignoring the attitude, I have an order for a Kerry Miles."
"Kerry…" Weiss furiously types on the keyboard. "He works in distribution and is out at the moment. I can hold it until he returns."
"Awesome." Yang picks up the nameplate on Weiss's desk. "'Weiss Schnee,'" she says aloud.
"Congrats, you can read."
Yang scoffs, "I'm just amazed how far we've come since college. I mean, look at us."
Weiss makes a deadpan face. "You and I are not alike. We were roommates in college once. That doesn't make us bonded for life."
"I know. But you, with your fancy desk job…"
"And you, unemployed."
"Hey, I'm working between jobs."
"I've told you plenty of times you can work with me—here—at Dust til Dawn."
"But I don't wanna work a 9 to 5, drinking watered-down coffee, and being emotionally exhausted," she whines.
"You'd rather be physically exhausted?"
"Yes!"
Weiss's head turns at the sound of the elevator ding. "Speaking of…."
Ruby Rose—intern and grad student—stops in her tracks at Weiss's comment.
"What's that? You were talking about me?"
"Your sister and I were just talking about being exhausted from working."
"Like, mentally?"
"More labor intensive on my end."
"And she says mine is emotional."
"Wow, lucky me. I'm all three. Like, a triple threat." Ruby does a little flourish.
Yang says, "Ruby, I don't think that's a good thing."
Ruby shrugs, "Well, what can you do? Anyway, I gotta run to class."
She sprints off. A second later, quick footsteps approach. "Oh, I forgot. Weiss"—she holds Weiss's attention—"we're still on for boba later?"
Weiss smiles. "Yes, I'll be there. After work."
"Great." She scurries off again.
Yang lingers by the front desk. "Ya know…," she turns to Weiss, "...my sister's single." She waggles her eyebrows.
Weiss nods knowingly. "Yes, I'm aware. And what about it?"
"I think… you need some gentle shoving in the love department."
"Do me a favor: don't interfere in my love life. I'm doing fine, thank you."
"What? Come on—"
"We're just friends. Ruby and I work together… in a friendly manner."
"Ask her out."
"Yang," Weiss scolds. A thought pops up. "What about you?"
"What about me?"
"You claim to be this matchmaking expert while being the most single person I know."
"That's not true! I have a girlfriend."
"Really? Who is she? Where is she? Does she even exist?"
"Yes! She lives in… Mistral."
"In another continent? How convenient."
Yang tosses her hands up, defeated. "Okay, you got me." Her scroll beeps. "Duty calls."
"Yes, please, go annoy some other secretary."
"Oh, trust me, Ice Queen, I reserve all of my taunting for you."
Boba Shack
Ruby sits on an armchair, a green cup in hand, and a book in her nose.
Weiss enters the shop, greets Ruby, and heads for the counter.
"Oh," Ruby calls, "no need." She offers a similar cup. The liquid is brown instead of green.
Weiss accepts the drink, "Aww, thank you," and takes the seat next to Ruby.
"I got you coffee."
"I'm impressed. And what concoction did you get?"
"Matcha." Ruby raised her cup. "Cheers." They toast with a soft giggle. "Thanks for meeting me here, by the way."
"Of course. I'm always open to spend time with you."
Ruby tosses her book aside. She groans. “Evil textbook.”
“How are classes?”
“Busy. Hard. Stupid.” They giggle. “I have an exam tomorrow.”
“Do you need help studying? I can help you study.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you! Now, I owe you two drinks.”
“Coffee tomorrow and we’ll call it even.”
Ruby groans again. “Internship. Pain.”
The door to the boba shop opens. "Hey, nerds." It's Yang.
"Aren't there other food deliverers in Vale?"
"You would like that, Ice Queen."
"Yang," Ruby whines.
"I'm kidding." Yang approaches the counter.
"Are you and my sister always like this?"
"I can stop anytime I want."
"Stop now."
"I said anytimeI want." Weiss chuckles at Ruby rolling her eyes.
Yang plops on the seat on Ruby's other side. "The drinks are gonna take a while. Some bozo ordered a dozen boba teas."
"A dozen?"
"Yeah. Looks like I need to make room on my bike."
"What a pain."
"Tell me about it." She picks up the textbook on the coffee table. “Atlas History. You’re studying history? Aren’t you getting a STEM degree?”
“Yeah. I mean, why not? It’s an elective. That’s what school’s for. Learning new things.”
“Okay, fair, but why the history of Atlas?”
Ruby’s eyes flit toward Weiss, who is occupied with her scroll. Yang notices.
“Oh. I see.”
“What’s there to see?”
“You’re seeping your way into a woman’s heart. Paving the path of romance.”
“That’s bull. Yang, you know I don’t believe in that stuff.”
“What stuff?” Weiss joins in on the conversation.
“Yang thinks she’s high and mighty when it comes to romance.”
Weiss blows a raspberry. Ruby follows suit.
“Because I am, okay? The concept of the soulmate has been set in stone since the beginning of time.” She stares down at Ruby and Weiss. “Anybody in this room can be your soulmate. Anybody out that door can be mine.”
The door rings. A woman wearing a wedding gown enters the boba shop. She passes them and orders a drink.
“And I won the lottery.” Ruby looks out the door.
Nothing.
“Damn.”
“No way.” Weiss rises from her seat. “Blake?”
The bride, Blake Belladonna, pivots at the sound of her name. “Weiss?”
The two women embrace. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too.”
“It’s been so long.”
“You two know each other?” Yang asks.
“From childhood, yes,” Blake answers.
“Ladies, this is Blake Belladonna. We used to be… close.” Yang blows a low whistle. “Not like that, you brute.”
“Do you think lighting can strike indoors?” Ruby asks no one in particular. “Any day now.”
“Well, not close enough to invite you to my wedding.”
“Oh my goodness! Congratulations...?”
Blake merely shakes her head. “I left him at the altar.”
“Oh my gosh, Blake. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. He said, ‘I do’ and I said, ‘I don’t,'” and that was the end of it.”
Yang chuckles. They look at her. “Sorry, that sucks.”
“Yang!” a guy behind the counter calls.
She gets up. Blake takes the seat next to Weiss. “So, what happened?”
“He was a jerk. And I feel like a jerk for being with him.”
“Hey, you are far from a jerk.”
“I am, though. I stopped hanging out with you because he said… you weren’t our—my species. I feel horrible.” The cat ears on her head go flat against her head.
Yang gently approaches them with a drink. “This is yours.”
“Thanks.”
“It’s on me.” She tugs the dozen boba teas against her waist. “And hopefully, these don’t get on me.”
Blake chuckles at the corny joke.
“See you around, Blake.”
Yang leaves the boba shop and jumps on her bike.
Weiss crosses her arms. “Yang is never this nice to me.”
Ruby shakes her head. “Go figure. She paid for that. And she’s the one without a job.”
Blake is by herself. “That’s the first time I’ve laughed in a year.”
Weiss takes her hand. “Hey, everything’s going to be okay. Is there anything we can do to help?”
“We?”
“Ruby.” That shuts her up.
“It won’t take long for me to get back on my feet. But first, I need a place to stay.”
“You can move in with me, then. I have a spare room.”
“You do?? Yang and I have been—”
Weiss shoots her a look. “Nevermind. It’s like lasers are coming out of your eyes.”
“It’s settled then. We can help you move in. You can stay for as long as you need.”
“Thanks, Weiss, you’re a lifesaver.” The women embrace. They all take a sip of their drinks. “I also need to find a job.”
Ruby and Weiss exchange looks.
“Do you want my right arm while you’re at it?”
Frat House
Yang arrives at the house with the drinks. The door is grand, and the outside is immaculate. Whoever is ordering these drinks must be having some party.
She rings the doorbell.
A blond dude with a monkey tail answers the door. “Whoo! Boba tea!” He grabs the box with the drinks in it.
“Order for”—And scurries off with it—”Neptune.”
A second later. A tall blue-haired man leans on the doorframe. “That would be me.”
He eyes her up and down.
“I’m not into guys.”
He doesn’t appear bothered by it. “I can work with that.”
“Or girls. I’m celibate.”
“Respect.” He cards through a stack of Lien. “Anyway, here’s something for your troubles.”
He offers Yang the money. What’s she going to do? Deny it?
“Thanks.” She pockets the Lien. “But uh… I’m pretty sure tipping is included in the total.”
“Nah. That’s not what I heard. It’s a scam to prevent tipping. Which is bogus, if you ask me.”
“I didn’t.”
“I always tip. My momma raised me right.”
“I’m sure she did.”
A loud crash can be heard inside. “I’m pretty sure that’s nothing.”
Yang steps back to examine the house. “So, is this a frat house?”
“Yup. We’re having a party tonight, actually. Do you want to come?”
Yang starts to say “no” at first but thinks it over for a second. “Can I… bring my friends?”
“Sure. Do they go to school here?”
“Oh. No. Would that be a problem?”
“Mmm. I can let it slide. I’m not even sure if I’m enrolled in school. Or dropped out. Or flunked.”
“Maybe you can figure it out eventually. What time’s the party?”
“Around 7.”
Yang heads back to her bike.
“We’ll be here at 9.”
“9? Why so late?”
“We’re practicing abstinence together.”
“Ah. I see. Maybe you and your religious friends can cleanse the sins of this house.”
She hops on and ignites the engine. “That’s not what we do. Later then!”
Weiss and Blake's apartment
Weiss’s apartment is quaint. Ruby and Weiss help Blake settle in. Ruby drops a box, the final one, on the floor of the living room.
“Alright, that should be the last of it.” She crashes on the couch.
“Thank you, Ruby. And what do I owe you?”
“How about… not making you a coffee at work tomorrow morning?”
“Sounds like a deal.” Weiss turns to Blake, who is standing in the corner. “Blake, your room is just across from mine.” She flicks a light. “And here’s the bathroom.”
“You know, Weiss, this is surprisingly… average for you.”
Ruby snickers.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, ever since I’ve known you… you’ve been…”
“Uptight?”
“...Pretentious is the word I was looking for.”
Weiss puckers her mouth. “Well, things changed when I was in university.”
“What happened?”
“My sister happened,” Ruby said.
“Oh.” Blake falls quiet.
“Not like that!” Weiss puts a stop to whatever Blake had in mind. “I swear I can never catch a break.”
“Weiss and Yang were roommates,” Ruby explains while getting up from the couch. “And when I was added to the mix, we sort of just… stuck around.”
“You say that like it’s a disease.”
“Like an STD?”
“Yes Ruby. And like with any STD, we grew accustomed to each other.”
Ruby whispers, “Do you know that from experience?”
“Oh my God, please get out of my apartment!”
She scurries toward the door and stops at the door frame. “But my apartment is so far away!”
Weiss rolls her eyes. “You can make it.” She and Blake follow Ruby out the exit.
Ruby takes five steps toward the door across the hall. She pants heavily. The woman pulls out a key and unlocks the door. “See?”
“You guys live next to each other?” Blake asks.
Weiss nods.
“Yang lives here, too! We’re gonna be neighbors!”
“Hooray,” Weiss says sarcastically. “It’s like Yang never left.”
“We’re living, breathing STDs! You can’t get rid of us even if you tried!” Ruby yells and closes the door.
Weiss and Blake linger in the hallway. “Let’s just hope the neighbors didn’t hear that.”
Ruby and Yang's apartment
Yang barges into the sisters’ apartment.
“Dude, I got great news!”
“No way, so do I!”
“Okay, you go first.”
“What? No. Your news sounds greater!”
Yang ponders it. “Yeah, it is pretty great,” she says. “I got us invited to a college party!”
“That’s so cool!” Ruby says. “But you don’t even go to college. You graduated.”
“So? It’s a frat party. These guys know how to have a good time. It’s gonna be you, me, Weiss, and Blake. The four of us are going to tear up the town tonight.”
“Wait! It’s tonight?” Ruby sinks in the cushions. “I have an exam tomorrow.”
“Rubes, just study there. It'll be fine. You can find a group of nerds and meet people. Two birds with one stone.”
She thinks about it. “Fine. I’ll go. Did you even ask Weiss and Blake yet?”
“No. I came to you first. Where’s Blake at?”
“Ooh! That’s actually my news! Blake moved in with Weiss!”
“Are you serious?” Yang smacks Ruby in the gut. She folds in pain. “Yo, why didn’t you start off with that? My news is trash compared to yours.”
“I can’t feel my insides,” Ruby groans.
“I’m going over there. Do you think it’s a good idea?”
“I think I need medical attention.”
“Yeah, it’s just an invitation.” Yang hypes herself up. “What’s the worst that’s gonna happen? She’s gonna say 'no?'” Yang leaves the apartment.
Ruby is alone in the living room. She coughs.
“Oh my God. Is that blood?”
Hallway/Weiss and Blake's apartment
The blond walks across the hall and knocks on Weiss’s door. She expected one of two people to answer and got her wish. And then some.
“Oh my God!” Yang turns around; her face is as red as a tomato.
“Yang.” Blake greets.
“Do you always answer the door in your birthday suit?”
“Oh, sorry. I forgot.” Blake covers herself up.
“You… forgot?”
“Back in Menagerie, everyone shows off their bodies. There’s nothing to hide. And it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I mean, I totally agree. Your body is a work of art—I mean, everybody’s body is unique and beautiful. I just… respect you so much.”
Blake chuckles. “I appreciate that,” she blushes. “You can turn around now. I’m decent.”
Yang does, finding the cat Faunus in a bathrobe. A breath escapes her lungs.
“Were you… holding your breath?”
“I didn’t mean to. Force of habit, I guess. That does explain the light-headedness, though.”
“Come in.” Blake opens the door wider.
“Thanks.” Yang enters the apartment. “I want to ask you and Weiss something.”
“Oh, yeah, she’s in her room. Weiss!”
Weiss walks out with her hands over her eyes. “Blake, I know I said, ‘feel free to make yourself at home,’ but for the love of God, hide the girls when you’re in the living room.”
“Don’t worry, Weiss, I’m clothed.”
Her hands fall at her sides. “That’s a relief.” She notices Yang. “And… I spoke too soon.”
“Relax. I’ll be out of your hair before you know it. Blake, I know you’ve had a rough day, and I was hoping I could do something to lift your spirits—if you want. There’s a fraternity party happening tonight, and I managed to snag us invites. Do you two want to go?”
“Sure.”
“No.”
Yang scoffs. “Weiss. Why not?”
She pulls the woman aside.
“I know what you’re trying to do, Yang. I can see through your schemes. You are using this college party as a chance to meddle me into going out with your sister.”
“What?” Yang couldn’t believe what she was saying. “No. No. No! Why would you even think that?”
Weiss shakes her head. “It’s not going to work. And I’ll prove it to you. If I find somebody at this party, you leave me alone.”
“Bet. Wait, leave you alone as in with your love life? Or leave you alone as in completely? Because I don’t think I can do my job without you around.”
She sends Yang a look.
“I’ll go change.”
“Great!” She points at Blake. “And I’ll see you there?”
“I think I’m ready to forget about today. I’m a free woman, Yang. And I can’t wait to see what’s out there for me.”
“That’s the spirit.” Yang heads out the door. “And before you go, tell Weiss to get that stick out of her ass.”
Frat party
The party is raging. Dance music blasts through the speakers. Bodies are sweating and rubbing against each other.
The only soul in the room not on their feet is Ruby—nose in her textbook, not making eye contact with anyone.
Yang sees this and approaches her. “Hey, nerd. Are you studying at a party?”
“You said I can study.”
Her sister responds by smacking the book out of her hands.
“Hey! That's a rental!”
“You’ve been staring at that textbook for hours. Take a break. Mommy knows what’s best for you.”
Ruby grimaces. “Don’t call yourself ‘mommy.’”
“Daddy then?”
She breaks into laughter. “No! That’s even worse.”
“Check it out,” Yang says.
Their eyes scan the room and find familiar white hair among the crowd.
“There’s Weiss… all by her lonesome.”
“I know what you’re doing.”
“What?”
“When you tamper with my relationship with Weiss. We talk about you, you know.”
Yang is caught. “So, you know.”
“Of course. We talk about everything together.” Ruby looks at her sister. "I like Weiss as a friend. It's awesome I get to see her at work and at home. But implying there's more between us makes both of us really uncomfortable."
Yang looks guilty. "Really?"
"Yeah. It's like, I can never look at Weiss the same way again. When we're together, I force a wall between us so we don't accidentally get close… in that way."
"Ruby, I had no idea. You and Weiss always seem to get along. I thought—"
"She's my best friend."
"Well, second best friend."
"Aww, you think you're first."
Blake sits out on the patio nursing a drink. The blond guy with a monkey tail walks by. He reverses back.
"Whoa. Hey, you're a Faunus."
"You as well."
"Name's Sun."
"Blake."
They shake hands.
"I had no idea there were other Faunus in the area," Blake remarks.
"There aren't. I'm an international student,” Sun says. “That means I'm not from here."
"I'm well aware. So, where are you from?"
"Born in Vacuo, raised in Mistral."
"So you're well-traveled."
"Indeed. So, how about you, Blake?"
"I'm from Menagerie."
His eyes go wide. "Whoa. That's like... the motherland."
Blake chuckles. "Yeah, but I moved around. Mantle at one point, now Vale."
"That's cool." He takes a swig of his beer. "So, what do you do?"
"For a living?"
He nods. "Are you a student?"
"No, I never went to school."
"Lucky. I'm in school right now, and it sucks."
"Maybe I'll start my own business then?"
"Oh! That's pretty neat. Like, in the good good juice?"
Blake pulls a face. "The good good juice?"
"Yeah, like the"—Sun pretends to take a drag—"ahh."
"Oh, no—why would I—?"
"Oh crap, I'm an idiot! Now I feel like a weenie." He tosses his beer aside. "Faunus here have a harder time finding work. That's why we end up in places like Mantle, even if the working conditions are garbage."
That thought slipped out of Blake's mind.
"It sucks,” Sun continues. “I know a lot of Faunus in minimum wage jobs, like custodial work and retail. It's not much, but it's something."
"Thanks, Sun. I feel like I'm aware of the world, but when it comes down to it, there's so much I don't know."
"Damn. That's poetic. Are you sure you're not on—?"
"No."
"Okay. I'll drop it."
A few feet away, Yang sees this exchange and marches over to the patio.
"Hey guys."
"Boba tea girl!" Sun greets.
"What?" Blake asks.
"She was here earlier with our boba tea."
"Hey, nice to meet you. I'm the boba tea girl now. Great."
"Do you know what we did with our boba tea?"
"What?" Yang asks.
"We combined all of our drinks together into a huge tub and made a giant boba tea."
The tension in Yang's shoulders disappears seeing how he isn't causing Blake any trouble.
"That's great. But wouldn't a giant boba tea have giant tapioca balls instead of the regular-sized ones?"
He sucks in a gasp. "Holy [redacted], that's an amazing idea! I'm gonna tell everybody that boba tea girl came through!"
He sprints in the other direction.
"He seems nice."
"Charming." Yang joins Blake on the patio. "Are you having fun, at least?"
Blake sighs. "At the end of the night, this will all be over. It feels like one heck of a day."
"Are you having fun, though?"
A laugh escapes Blake's lips. "Yes, yes I am, Yang. Thanks to you."
"That's good."
"There are more humans here than I'm used to."
"Really? You know more Faunus than humans?"
"I mean, there's Weiss, but…"
"It's questionable if she's human or some other living creature who likes drinking children's tears."
That makes Blake laugh. "There's that. That's very true." She sets her drink down and focuses on Yang. "I have a friend from my past. Her name was Ilia. We used to be really close."
Yang nods knowingly.
"Platonically."
"Right. Right, right, right, right. Proceed."
"I know her as the sweetest, compassionate person in the world. But she resented humans. The two of us tangled with my ex. I had to pretend to be some sort of anti-human Faunus. Which was why I stopped hanging out with Weiss.
"But I slowly realized I wasn't like them. Our wedding was in a remote town outside of the kingdom. I sought refuge in Vale knowing they weren't willing to follow. I'm a coward."
"Hey, you're not a coward. That's the bravest thing I've ever heard. This Ilia chick, this ex of yours, they don't define you. You define you. Weiss and I will do everything in our power to help you get through to it."
"But what about Ruby?"
"Ruby? Oh. She's a lost cause."
Blake shakes her head at the blond.
Later in the night…
Yang is in the kitchen mixing a drink. She adds vodka to a cup, swirls it around, tastes it, and retracts in disgust. She picks up another cup and pours tequila into that. The taste is more pleasant this time.
"Hey, Yang."
Yang yelps and nearly drops all of her drinks.
"Jesus Christ, Ruby, you scared the crap out of me!"
"Sorry. Hey, can we go? I have an exam tomorrow, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah. I just ran into Blake. Have you seen Weiss?"
"Last time I saw her; she was by the porch."
"Okay, you go find her, I'll go fetch Blake." Yang realizes what she said. "Do you think that's racist?"
"How am I supposed to know?"
"Good point. I'll go ask her. Go get Weiss."
Ruby splits apart from Yang and heads for the porch. She sees Weiss leaning against the railing… in the arms of some random guy. She doesn't react the way she imagined.
She doesn't say anything for a moment. Ruby feels her chest falling on her stomach.
Yang stands next to her. "Hey, are you ready to go?"
She catches sight of what Ruby sees.
"Oh…"
Yang rests a hand on her sister's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, sis."
"I expected you to say, 'I told you so' or 'should've taken your shot.'"
"You know Weiss. It's probably a one-time thing."
Weiss and the guy kiss.
"Or not."
"Well, good for her, at least,” Ruby fakes a smile. “She looks happy. Even at the cost of my…."
"Hey, hey, hey. Just because she's happy doesn't mean you let yourself be sad. Your guys' happiness can coexist. They should coexist."
Ruby sniffles. "Yeah, you're right. I think I need time to process. Maybe walk around a bit. I'll see you back at the apartment."
"If you're gonna walk around at night, take Blake with you."
"Thanks. See ya, sis."
Ruby goes back inside.
Yang lingers behind until Weiss stands next to her.
“Yang.”
“Weiss.”
“I held up my end of the deal tonight.”
“That you did. Your observation skills perceive me.”
“I’m hoping you will do the same.”
“My lips are sealed.”
“Good.”
“No more teasing about your lack of love life or mingling in it.”
“My relationships will no longer be part of your business, and I feel free. Speaking of, where’s Ruby? Doesn’t she have an exam tomorrow?”
Yang notices Weiss’s words. “She does. Ruby dipped out with Blake. They’re walking back to the apartment so Ruby could rest.”
“Oh. Then we should be on our way.”
They walk off the property.
“You seem chipper than your usual self. Did you lose that stick of yours?”
“Shut up, Yang.”
Weiss and Blake's apartment
The next morning…
The doorbell to Weiss and Blake’s apartment buzzes.
After a beat, it buzzes again.
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz—
“What the hell? First work, now at my damn house,” Weiss grumbles. She answers the intercom. “Hello?”
“I’m here for Blake,” says a woman’s voice.
Weiss processes it for a second, then presses another button.
“Blake! Door!” Weiss shouts, then returns to her room.
Blake hurries out, this time in clothes, and crosses to the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
Blake answers it to find—
“Ilia??”