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Ruby hopped up onto the front desk, legs swinging as she watched the faunus pace.
“Ruby, if you're gonna ask me to stop, you may as well save your breath.” Blake snapped closing in on herself
“I wouldn't ask you to stop,” Ruby nodded in agreement. “ I'm still on board with the whole take down the bag guys plan. Would be kinda ‘pot kettle’ if I wasn't.”
Blake swivelled around in surprise before narrowing her eyes “Then what is this about?”
“I want you to slow down.” Ruby bargained
“We don't have the luxury to slow down!” Blake spat staring down the younger girl.
“Nope,” She responded, popping the p, “it's a necessity.”
“The necessity is stopping Torchwick.” Blake argued.
“Yes but so is rest, sit with me for a moment.”
“Ruby.” Blake warned
“Blake please, just hear me out.” Ruby pleaded, patting the desktop.
The faunus remained stationary, sharp amber glaring into soft silver. After a moment she relented huffing as she climbed onto the desk beside her leader. “Fine.”
Ruby gave her a wide smile turning to completely face her. “ I grew up in Patch, a tiny island near Vale, my whole family were trained huntsmen. Dad taught at signal, mum would go on mission's and my uncle Qrow would do a bit of both. I don't remember a lot about my mum, when I was really little, she left on a mission and never came home. My dad kinda shut down, so my bi- my big sister Yang-.'' Blake eyebrows shot up, as Ruby took a breath, shaking slightly as she pushed through whatever storm was brewing inside.
“Yang looked after us, did everything, cleaning, cooking, even taught me to talk. Then, the next bit is kinda hazy so like bare with me, but one day she put me in a wagon and took me into the woods. She must have walked miles . I woke up to growling and red eyes and god Blake, We were so young. Yang couldn't walk anymore and I couldn't climb out of the wagon. We were saved at the last moment, I think it was my uncle but it's all kinda…” Ruby motions waving with hands, shrugging at the concerned look from Blake.
“It was calm after that, dad spent entire days with us, I thought the worst was over you know. Then there was shouting and banging, Yang hid me under the bed and left to go check it out. She didn't come back.” With a sick sense of morbidity Blake wondered how long her leader waited under the bed; The look in the young girl's eyes told her enough.
“No one would tell me why, so I searched and searched and I found what I thought led Yang into the woods that day. I didn't slow down to think and I wasn't as lucky the second time.” Blake stared stock still as Ruby pulled down her stocking revealing a black and red metal leg, embellished with gold detailing. "I shouldn't have survived either trip."
The faunus shook her head, huffing a little as she turned away from her leader, ‘' Ruby I'm sorry that happened to you and I get what you're saying but this isn't the same. I'm not a child, it's not just some search for answers I can't just-”
“You're not listening! I'm not telling you to stop Blake!” The faunus jumped, Ruby was never one to yell or scold. “ I haven't, I still search for her but I won't let it destroy me.”
“You don't’ get it I'm the only one who can-”
“No Blake you're not! You have a whole team! You're not alone!” Ruby hisses back before stepping forward to take Blake's hands continuing in a softer tone “We will find our answers and we will stop him, I promise but I have to look after those who are with me now. That includes you Blake.”
Ruby gently brought the older girl in for a hug “Please get some rest, don't let this consume you. For yourself and for those you love.”
Blake sighed a gentle “Okay.” Leaning into the younger girls embrace.
“Good!” Ruby cheered gently untangling herself before staring Blake in the eyes, “dinner, bath, bed. Leader's orders.”
“Aye aye captain,” Blake saluted causing them both to laughed as Ruby headed towards the door
“Oh and if you're feeling up to it we'd love to see you tomorrow night. In fact I bet Sun is dying for a chance to dance with you.” Before Blake could come up with a dignified response, the brunette slipped out of the door, leaving her to shake her head hiding a blush behind dark hair.
“Unbelievable.” Blake muttered heading off towards the cafeteria.