Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“That was Salem,” Oscar… Ozpin said, looking up at the hunters and huntresses.

Ruby stared at the spot where the vision stood. She tightened her grip on Crescent Rose, but that didn’t stop her trembling limbs. She glanced at her teammates. They did not seem to be frozen in place as she was.

Blake was talking to her family on the other side of the hall. Yang was walking down the stairs. Next to her she saw Weiss moving to her side.

“Ruby,” Weiss said, placing a hand on one of Ruby’s raised arms. Wide silver eyes looked at her slowly. Ruby opened her mouth to speak, but looked to her uncle and sister when they started speaking. She missed the first part of the conversation. But Qrow was now holding the relic.

“Well,” the gravelly voice continued, and Qrow stepped forward to place a hand on Yang’s shoulder. “We’re all glad you’re still here firecracker.”

Ruby groaned as her knees buckled and she fell to the floor.

“Are you okay?” Weiss asked, dropping to her knees beside her partner. Ruby was swaying where she sat.

“I feel like I should be asking you guys,” Ruby whispered, a light chuckle on her breath. Despite her words she crumpled more, and Weiss held her up.

“I’m fine thanks to Jaune. You can’t even sit up,” Weiss huffed.

“Just tired.” Ruby’s words were quiet, the syllables sliding together.

Yang moved to sit next to the two whilst Blake approached tentatively.

“So, Blake, what are you doing here?” Ruby asked quietly, turning her head to look up at the Faunus from where she now rested against Weiss.

“I… I was going to ask you three the same thing,” Blake said awkwardly.

“That’s… a long story.” Ruby extended her words, half rolling her eyes before realising what a mistake that was. Her head throbbed painfully, and she winced curling into Weiss.
“Ruby!” Weiss tightened her grip on their leader, whilst Yang placed her hand on Ruby’s shoulder, leaning in to check on her.

Ruby closed her eyes.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, her words slurring together. “We’re all here together now.”

Her sister agreed quietly. Blake dropped to her knees, and Ruby felt the tell-tale signs of a group hug happening around her, but she was too tired to reciprocate.

Despite the ache settling behind her eyes, she was comfortable, the warmth of her teammates a reassuring feeling around her.

Ruby was beginning to drift off when the peace was broken.

“Alright kids, break it up, let’s all head back to the apartment,” Qrow said. “We could all use some rest. We’ve still got a long journey ahead of us.”

Ruby struggled to open her eyes, as her teammates pulled apart. Weiss was the only reason she was still upright. The younger girl frowned as the throbbing pain in her head started up again with a vengeance.

Qrow crouched down in front of the partners, looking down at her niece with a mixture of concern and fondness on her face.

“Hey there kiddo,” he said. “Looks like you could use some help.”

Ruby nodded slowly. Qrow smiled before lifting his niece up easily. The girl looked like she was trying not to fall asleep as they walked out of the building, the rest of the group following.

“You can go to sleep Pipsqueak,” Qrow offered smiling down at his charge. “I’ve got you.”

Ruby nuzzled into his shoulder her eyes falling closing. Within seconds she went limp, falling asleep easily in the safety of her uncle’s arms.

Chapter Text

Ruby felt the morning sun on her face. She felt decently well rested, though there was still a faint pain across her forehead. Slowly she sat up.

“Ruby!”

Ruby looked to see Weiss jumping up from the bed across the room and moving towards her.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m better,” Ruby said smiling. “How are you?”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Weiss said. “Don’t feel a thing.”

“That’s good.” Ruby smiled sleepily, leaning back against the headboard. Weiss chuckled.

“Don’t you go to sleep again! You’ve been out for thirty-six hours, at least.”

“What?!” Ruby sat bolt upright, regretting it instantly as the motion aggravated her headache. Weiss reached out, pushing Ruby back gently.

“Careful now,” she said. “It’s okay, there’s no need to worry. Everyone needed rest.”

Ruby nodded slowly.

“How about some breakfast?” Weiss asked. “I can help you up if you want. Or I can bring you breakfast in bed.”

“I can get up,” Ruby said. Weiss smiled.

“Good. I think everyone will feel better seeing you up on your feet.” There was something else beneath the surface of Weiss’ words. Some hidden meaning.

“What do you mean?”

Weiss sighed. “Yang and your uncle… well they said…,” she trailed off. After a few moments she said, “I think, everyone was just worried.”

She trailed off looking down.

“Oh.”

An uneasy silence fell across the pair.

Ruby was the one to break the silence.

“Weiss? I’m sorry for making you worry,” she whispered, wringing her hands.

“No, Ruby don’t apologise, it is NOT your fault,” Weiss said, matter-of-factly. Ruby smiled, and Weiss smiled back before wrapping her partner in a hug.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” she whispered. Then the ex-heiress stood up, clapping her hands once. “Now, breakfast!”

Ruby laughed, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and pushing herself up. Her legs felt a little shaky beneath her, and it must have shown on her face because Weiss linked one arm through her own before gently pulling her along.

“What’s for breakfast?” Weiss asked, a little smugly when they reached the living area, which took longer than Ruby cared to admit. Jaune, Ren and Nora were in the kitchen, whilst Yang, was lounging on one of the couches, and Blake and Oscar were sitting at the dining table waiting patiently.

“Pancakes,” Jaune called from the kitchen. “They’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

No one looked up.

“Uh… guys,” Weiss said, exasperation in her tone.

Yang was the first to look up. “Ruby!”

A chorus of her name rang out through the small apartment.

“You’re awake!” Blake gestured to the chair beside her. “Come, sit.”

Everyone moved to the table as Weiss helped Ruby sit. The massive pile of pancakes was placed on the table, and everyone started to dig in.

Ruby started to flag after only two pancakes, her sight going in and out of focus whilst her head began to droop.

Then the front door opened and Qrow walked in.

“There’s a train leaving tomorrow morning,” he said before looking at the group.

“Uncle Qrow!” Ruby called, jumping up a little too quickly and knocking her chair over. Similarly to earlier, her hand went to her hand as pain flashed behind her eyes. Ruby’s knees buckled and it was only Weiss’ quick reaction that stopped her from falling onto her toppled chair.

Ruby groaned in pain. Qrow was by Ruby’s side in an instant extracting her from Weiss grasp.

“I’m not sure how much excitement you can get up too at breakfast,” Qrow said chuckling ever so slightly, “but I think it’s your bedtime again kiddo.”

“I’m okay,” Ruby said stubbornly, though her eyes were half shut.

“Course you are.” Qrow lifted Ruby up, carrying her back to bed and tucking her in.

Qrow stood to leave, but Ruby’s hand shot out, grabbing his wrist.

“Wait, don’t go.” Ruby’s words were slurred and slow. Qrow sat down on the edge of the bed, looking down at his niece.

Carefully, he brushed the hair out of her eyes. “How are you feeling?”

“Just tired,” Ruby huffed.

“You had me worried kiddo. After Beacon…” He muttered the last part, and she wasn’t sure she was supposed to hear.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

He smiled sadly. Ruby pushed herself up and hugged him.

“It’s not your fault kiddo,” he said, returning the hug.

“It’s not yours either,” she pointed out. He chuckled, messing up Ruby’s hair.

“You reading my mind now?”

Ruby giggled.

Qrow readjusted to lean against the headboard, still holding his niece.

“Go to sleep kiddo,” he said. “I’ll be here when you wake.”