This will be the final chapter! I hope you all enjoy it!

Thank you to lupos-corvidae!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

Chapter 4. The Captain's Dream

It was probably one of the longest nights Weiss had ever lived through.

The first hour or so was spent with her trying to focus on the words of the book in her lap, but she didn't absorb much of the story, even after she'd read and reread the pages several times.

She'd never really intended to read from the start though – the book was merely a distraction to keep herself busy.

Despite everything that had transpired that afternoon, Weiss truly didn't feel tired – even if she did, she was certain she wouldn't have slept anyway.

Not when Ruby was like this...

For the next hour, Ruby's condition didn't change at all, but Weiss' own mind turned out being her own worst enemy, as it often was. She just couldn't stop thinking about how simple it would be for Ruby to simply never wake up.

Thoughts like those were the most upsetting. Weiss was constantly reassuring herself that her lover was fine, checking for her pulse or the rise and fall of her chest, which both indeed were ever-present.

After the thoughts of Ruby succumbing in silence had passed, Weiss' mind traveled to something much worse.

She imagined her captain suddenly jolting awake from excruciating pain, screaming and sobbing. Weiss would be so petrified she wouldn't know what to do. And in her indecisiveness, Ruby would crumple in agony and grow still.

Her mind kept wandering to every kind of awful scenario possible, and Weiss couldn't stop it no matter what she did.

Immersing herself in the books only made her more nervous to have her eyes off of Ruby, so after another hour, Weiss put the tomes aside.

She'd put herself through numerous torturous scenarios already, and the heiress had been crying at the cruelness of them.

Why couldn't her mind just shut down? Why couldn't she just sit there and not think? Why was that so difficult?

For a moment, she hunched forward, put her head in her hands, and simply tried to breathe, reminding herself of the reality right now as she tried to tear herself away from what her mind wanted her to believe instead.

Her eyes went back to Ruby, who's form was illuminated by a soft, yellowish glow from the lantern. Her cheeks that had been so awfully pale before had regained a bit of their rosy color, and even though it was barely noticeable, it was something. Her lips were parted slightly, and air passed into and out of her lungs in time with the movement of her chest beneath the blankets.

Weiss had to remind herself the girl was merely sleeping. There was no danger of death here. Her wounds had been tended to, and now all she needed was rest to regain her energy.

Weiss knew she herself could have simply curled up and slept beside her, and they both would have woken again tomorrow.

But her mind was too active with the unkind thoughts, and Weiss knew that if she attempted sleep, it wouldn't be kind to her. She was still too worried about Ruby.

She had felt for herself the stinging pain of her own father's sword, as well as the backbreaking impact of her body hitting the water.

Even if Ruby was a pirate used to a life of roughhousing, Weiss couldn't dislodge the memories of their tender first night together, nor could she deny the reality before her now.

Past the sword and confident voice was just another girl. Ruby was human, younger than Weiss and just as fragile. She didn't know what it might've taken before things became too much for Ruby to bear. She could fight men twice her size with grace and ease, but would she be so lucky against her own wounds?

Weiss kept her head in her hands for a long while, never realizing the frivolity of her thoughts.

It would be two more restless and seemingly-never-ending hours yet before all her fears would be dismissed.

The room was still dark, save from the faint light of the lantern, and Weiss was sobbing softly into her palms. She couldn't even make sense of the awful thoughts anymore, but she knew they were still there, clawing at her heart.

She didn't notice the little shift in motion beside her...

Ruby realized she could feel again – feel the soft pillow beneath her head and the warm blankets on top of her body. It was just the first sign that she'd woken up from a deep sleep.

There was a dull pain in her side as well, and when she delved into the memories at its source, everything came rushing back to her all at once, like a wave sweeping over her.

She hadn't been fast enough to push Weiss out of the way, nor had she been in a proper position to disarm or fend off Schnee. So taking the hit was all she could've done.

And after that, all she could remember was a rush of air, a terrifying sense of weightlessness, and then all-consuming cold darkness.

It was all a dire contrast to the calming warmth she was experiencing right now.

But the sounds that reached her ears seconds later were what motivated her to finally open her eyes.

She found herself back in her quarters, and judging by the darkness, it was the middle of the night. The ship was swaying on the combers a bit more than it normally did, and the insistent patter against the hull could only be rain.

But that hadn't been the sound that had woken her.

Her gaze flashed to the side and found Weiss dressed in loose white clothes, her hair free and running all down her back. She was hunched forward with her face in her hands in an effort to stifle miserable sobs.

It pained Ruby more than wounds ever could.

She turned onto her side with ease, keeping pressure off of the wound as she faced Weiss. Reaching out a hand, she brushed her fingers against the girl's thigh and spoke softly.

"Weiss..."

The heiress' reaction was startling to say the least. Her body jolted as she jerked her face up, a choked gasp flying from her lungs, blue eyes wide and terrified as they found silver.

Ruby saw so much in those eyes in that second – the crippling fear of a girl who blamed herself for everything, the doubt that Ruby was actually awake, the need for it to be the truth...

More tears rushed down her cheeks, and her voice was small and scared.

"R-Ruby...?"

As captain, it was her duty to look after her crew above all else, and Ruby knew she'd let Weiss worry for far too long tonight. She could only imagine the heiress' anguish in staying beside her for so many hours, fearful she might never wake.

Ruby offered a gentle smile as she reached up for her.

"Yeah..." she said. "I'm okay, Weiss. I'm okay... Promise. You don't have to cry anymore."

The heiress put a hand to her mouth to quiet her sobs, her eyes closing with the weight of her tears as her face contorted with emotion.

Ruby managed to place a hand on her lover's side and coax her to lie down, sliding over a bit herself to make room for the heiress on the pillow.

"Ruby..." Weiss mumbled, her shaking fingers clutching her captain's shirt. "Ruby..."

"Yeah. I'm here, Weiss. I'm here. Shh..."

It was certainly hard for her to believe that this was the same girl she'd kidnapped a few days back – though when she looked at things now, she'd actually been saving Weiss from a life that surely hadn't been very kind to her.

Only a few days ago, Weiss had been snapping and barking at her while tied to a post.

All of that seemed almost ridiculous compared to where they were now.

Within a matter of days and through the course of just a few events, their bond had been deepened to that of lovers who had bested a hundred seasons together.

And perhaps they'd even surpassed that.

Weiss cried into her shirt for several moments, and Ruby kept her close all the while, wrapping her arms around the girl's shoulders and pulling the blankets up to cover her. She squeezed her lover as hard as she dared without risking either of them pain, and it was just enough to satisfy them both.

Ruby kissed her face repeatedly, from her cheeks to her forehead and hairline to her nose and her neck. She hushed her, murmuring soothing reassurances all the while, until Weiss finally started to calm down.

"We're okay, Weiss! Both of us," Ruby murmured, nuzzling her ear. "You should rest. I will too, so you don't have to be alone, okay?"

Weiss sniffled and managed to swallow around the lump lodged in her throat. She peeked up at Ruby timidly, still frightened.

"But... Ruby, you-"

"I'm fine, Weiss. We both just need a little rest and then we'll get up together in the morning and have breakfast and everything will be alright," she said. "I know it might seem hard to believe now when it's so dark and your mind is so strained, but it's the truth, Weiss. I promise." She held a long kiss over the heiress' scarred eye, urging her to sleep. "Just rest," she whispered. "I'll be here with you in the morning, Weiss. I love you."

Ruby's gentle words and even gentler touch were what eased Weiss' mind enough to let her fall asleep.

Ruby continued to hold her for a while, petting through her hair and kissing her temple, feeling her breathe to ensure she was sleeping now.

When she was certain, Ruby did as she'd promised and followed after her, letting the tired feeling consume her.

For a while, all was peaceful.

But Ruby woke again soon afterward once more to the sounds of crying.

Weiss was shaking in her arms, biting the fabrics of Ruby's shirt to force down screams. Panicked, the brunette pried her away gingerly to look at her face.

"Weiss? What's wrong? Does it hurt?"

Weiss shook her head, whimpering again.

For a few minutes, all Ruby could do was hold her, not knowing for certain what was wrong. If it wasn't her wound, she had an idea of what it could've been, and when Weiss finally managed to speak, it confirmed Ruby's fears.

"You died..." she choked out on a broken voice, thin and wobbling. "Ruby, you- you-"

"Shhh..." She brought Weiss close again. "It was just a bad dream, Weiss. I'm right here. I'll always be right here for you."

More time passed them by as Ruby provided comfort for her, doing her best to ease Weiss' troubled mind.

The rain had stopped, and the swaying of the ship was slow and rhythmic.

When Weiss could speak again, it was a bit firmer, though still small.

"It was my fault..." she mumbled.

Ruby stiffened instantly.

"Weiss, no. I'm not gonna let you blame yourself-"

"But it was!" she cried, her eyes distraught and watering. "I couldn't face him... I just froze and you got hurt because of it. I'm sorry..."

Ruby couldn't think of anything else she could do but kiss her. She quieted Weiss by pressing their lips together, wanting to distract her from such detrimental thoughts. She pulled away to let the heiress breathe before covering her lips once more.

"It's okay..." Ruby soothed her in between kisses. "It's not your fault."

More than anything she wanted Weiss to believe those words. She wanted to prove it to her, and she felt that reminding Weiss how deeply Ruby loved her was the only way.

Ruby kissed her again and again, fingers wiping her tears with care before threading through her ivory tresses. "I didn't want you to get hurt," Ruby whispered. "It's better that we both did instead of just you. You would've been killed..."

She felt herself starting to choke at the thoughts now, but she persisted. "I couldn't let that happen, Weiss. I love you so much. I wanted to keep you safe."

Every kiss Ruby pressed to her lips made Weiss' heart beat faster and harder, but it was no longer the result of pain and panic; it was due to the intense emotions swirling within her.

Ruby only harbored the utmost love for her – no distrust, no blame, no accusations – only love, trust, and loyalty.

Weiss felt guilty for ever doubting her.

She returned every kiss with one just as warm, needing to reassure Ruby as well.

The brunette could still feel her lover shivering, and when she pressed a hand to Weiss' chest, her pulse was erratic. In an effort to calm her, Ruby dipped her head down to kiss over her heart, in much the same way she'd done last night.

"Breathe, Weiss..." she murmured. "Just breathe. I've got you."

The heiress did just that, and when the trembling finally stopped, she managed to trail a few kisses through Ruby's soft hair. When she next found her voice, Weiss wasn't whimpering apologies anymore.

"I love you," she breathed. "I love you, Ruby Rose. More than anything."

Ruby needed to return her words.

"And I love you, Weiss Schnee. Despite my own profession or the profession of your father, I love you."

They met each other's eyes, silver like the fine treasures she'd stolen over the years, and blue like the sky she'd never gotten to appreciate until she'd been swept away.

Their faces were lined with countless tear trails, and Ruby leaned in to kiss a few of them away.

"Any more crying and we'll make the sea even saltier!" she chuckled.

Weiss smiled for the first time since they'd spotted her father's boat earlier.

She kissed Ruby's cheeks as well, then over her eyelids.

And at last, their lips met again before sleep took them for good until morning.

When Weiss woke again, the berth was well-lit with a faint yellowish glow.

Sunlight slipped in through the cracks of wood, and the sounds of the waves lapping against the ship echoed in her ears like a symphony.

Ruby was in her arms, pressed closely to her chest, her breath soft and slightly snoring. The fact that the brunette was still asleep was already an indication as to how badly her wound was affecting her; Weiss knew that usually the captain rose with the sun.

She wanted to let her lover rest as much as possible; Ruby wouldn't lift a finger for chores today if Weiss could help it.

For a moment, the heiress simply held her, breathing in her musky scent that had a faint velvety tinge to it. She kissed the girl's hair and then the side of her face, savoring the last bit of her warmth.

When at last she made an effort to pull away, it was certainly no easy feat.

Ruby's weight rested atop one of her arms, and it was all Weiss could do to keep from whimpering at the numbness to slip free.

But she'd neglected to remember her own wound, and when she pushed herself up, she winced at a sharp pain in her side.

Catching her breath for a moment, she then slowly slipped out from beneath the blankets.

She left her clothes untouched, knowing it would be too much of a hassle to wrestle her way into them – besides, the sleepwear clothes were looser and much more suitable to move around in, and there was less danger of aggravating her wound.

She scrambled to reach her boots and pulled them on over her socks, zipping them up as best she could.

Then, holding on the edge of the bed for support, she braced herself as she stood, about to make for the door when a tiny noise stopped her.

"Mm..."

Turning back, she found Ruby shifting about, rolling toward the spot where Weiss had been, already missing her warmth.

Weiss went back to her briefly to adjust her position, keeping Ruby's weight off of her injured side. She tucked the girl in as much as she could before leaning down to press a soft kiss to her eyelid.

Then, Weiss limped to the door, using whatever she could for support along the way.

Upon stepping out of the bedroom, the sounds of the open ocean reached her ears quickly – the heaving waves, the creaking of the ship, the gulls' morning calls.

Weiss stayed close to the cabins as she made her way toward the kitchen, intending to fetch Ruby her breakfast and bring it to her.

However, she only made it halfway there before she spotted someone else, and they her.

Blake rushed over to her instantly, putting a hand to Weiss' shoulder to better support her.

"What are you doing out of bed?" she demanded. "Yang and I were just about to bring you two breakfast. You should be resting."

"The concern is appreciated, but I don't need it," Weiss said. "I'm well enough to walk on my own, so I took it upon myself to be Ruby's caretaker today. I'll be certain to make sure she stays in bed."

"Weiss, you need to rest, too," the Faunus girl declared. "Either Yang or I will-"

"Ah-puh-puh-puh-pup!" Weiss held up a hand to stop her. "That won't be necessary. There's too much to be done daily on a pirate ship, and you'll already be short two members today. We don't need to make it three."

Reaching up, she patted her hand over the one Blake had put on her shoulder. "Besides, all I'd be doing all day would be sitting beside her. It'll hardly be strenuous for either of us. You can check on us when you've got a moment free if it makes you feel any better. How's that?"

Blake sighed; she knew there'd be no chance of winning and argument against a Schnee.

"Fine. Yang and I'll stop by in a few hours. But for now I'll help you to the kitchen, okay?"

Weiss nodded in agreement, not prideful enough that she'd deny the help and risk reopening her wound.

Since Blake was helping her with this, Weiss assumed that Yang was steering the ship. Her heart went out to the blonde, as she couldn't imagine how on-edge she must've been about everything today. She must've been eager to see Ruby.

Therefore, once Blake and Weiss had retrieved food from Ren and Nora and hobbled back to Ruby's room, the heiress requested that the Faunus girl inform Yang her little sister was doing just fine and still resting.

"I'm sure hearing any news about her will make her feel better," Weiss said.

Blake nodded, and opened the door to let Weiss inside. She lingered in the doorway, putting down the bottles of water Nora had given her as well as the bowl of porridge; Ren had said he'd made this meal specially for his captain today, as it was nutritious and easy to swallow.

Weiss kept her own bowl in one hand as she went to the small desk across from the bed and pulled out the little chair secured there. She moved it over toward the bed and sat down at Ruby's side, then fetched the items Blake had brought in.

When Blake was certain her assistance was no longer needed, she dipped her head and closed the door, intent to carry on news of Ruby's peaceful rest to Yang.

Weiss made sure Ruby's porridge was secure between her ankles so it wouldn't slide around on the floor.

She busied herself with trying to eat her own food, as it'd been the first food she'd had since yesterday morning. It was a rather steady process with several breaks in between to let her stomach adjust, but eventually she finished it all and put the bowl down in exchange for Ruby's.

The girl was still asleep, and Weiss was conflicted between letting her rest more or waking her while her food was still warm.

But it wasn't long afterward when Ruby stirred and made a small moaning sound.

Weiss perked up, ready to reach out and help her if need be.

The younger girl mumbled something to herself as she fought to open her eyes, and it didn't take Weiss long to realize Ruby was saying her name.

"Weiss..." she mumbled, looking around on the vacant bed. "Weiss...?"

"I'm here, Ruby," she said gently. "I'm right here."

Slowly, Ruby turned herself over, and her eyes met Weiss' at last. There was worry in those silver pools initially, but it all faded as soon as she found her lover.

"Ahh..." Ruby sighed. "It was cold without you..."

"Sorry. I was getting your breakfast." Weiss leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Do you think you can eat?"

"Can I?"

Eagerly, Ruby tried to push herself up before Weiss could stop her. The brunette winced as she was forced to remember the gash across her stomach. Weiss' arm shot out to support her shoulders, her voice soft and soothing in Ruby's ear.

"Easy..." she murmured. "You're still healing."

"I'll be fine," Ruby shrugged, straightening up. "There's a lot to be done today."

"Not for you," Weiss corrected. "All you'll be doing today is resting. I'll be here to make sure of it."

"What?" Ruby yelped. "I can't do that! I'm the captain of this ship! I've gotta-"

"Rest," Weiss repeated. "It makes no sense for you to be putting yourself at risk when you're still recovering from such a ghastly wound. Your crew more than understands if you need a day off. They can take care of things without you for one day. Don't you trust them?"

Ruby's mouth was open as though she were about to retaliate, but when Weiss' words registered in her mind, she pursed her lips. Weiss smiled and went on.

"That's what it means to be part of a crew, isn't it? When one of you needs to rest, you can count on the others to take over for you. Believe me, none of them want to see you working right now. So let them do their part today while you rest up. It's better to come back to them 100% tomorrow than go out at 50% today, don't you think?"

Ruby had no hopes of arguing with her. Weiss was far too good with words, and there wasn't a single loophole to be found. With a loud sigh, Ruby gave in.

"Okay..."

"Glad to hear it," Weiss said, kissing her cheek again. "Now then, try to get started on breakfast while it's still warm."

She made a move to transfer the bowl into Ruby's lap, but paused. Instead, Weiss scooped up a spoonful of the porridge and held it out for her.

"Say 'ah'."

Ruby blushed instantly and pouted.

"I-I can do it myself..."

"Not today," Weiss chastised her. "Today, you're getting spoiled rotten, whether you like it or not. Though something tells me you might like it."

Ruby grumbled, but it wasn't mean-hearted at all. She bit down on the spoon and melted instantly as the flavors painted her tongue.

"Mmmm..." she hummed. "Ren's too good..."

"He is, isn't he?" Weiss agreed. "It'd be an insult to such a wonderful chef not to eat as much as you can, so don't hold back."

Ruby nodded and opened her mouth expectantly.

Weiss continued to feed her for several moments, pausing a few times to hand her a bottle of water or a small rag to clean her face with. Ruby managed to eat almost all of the porridge, and Weiss was glad that the girl could build up some energy from doing so.

"That was so good," Ruby hummed, watching Weiss put the bowl on the floor to clean up later. "Well, I should probably get moving now."

Ruby pulled the blankets off of herself and began sliding her legs off the mattress. Weiss instantly put a hand to her shoulder to stop her.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?" she scolded. "Didn't I tell you? You're taking it easy today, Ruby. Your capable crew will handle everything on their own. For today, you need to rest. And I mean it," she added sternly.

"But Weiss-"

"Do you really want to get yourself into an argument with a Schnee of all people?"

With a grunt and a sigh, the brunette pulled herself back into bed. Satisfied, Weiss began to help her relax, leaning Ruby back against her pillow to support her.

Ruby had sustained her fair share of injuries in the past, but she'd never been forced to a day of bed-rest before; she had no idea what a day of recuperation entailed.

But Weiss made sure to keep a watchful and helpful eye on her all the while.

She kept Ruby busy at first with asking her to tell of things she'd accomplished thus far in her years of piracy. Weiss was eager to listen to the girl talk about her past, intrigued by her stories of warped heroism and stealing in order to give to the less fortunate.

She recounted several specific stories of encounters with other pirates, as well as a time they had docked the ship at the wrong harbor.

Amidst the storytelling, they got a few visitors – Yang and Blake included – to see how their captain was doing.

Sun had brought them each a fresh banana from their stash of fruit that had yet to expire. Pyrrha brought them an extra blanket she had found and beaten the dust out of. Blake brought them some fresh bandage wrap and left it on the desk for future usage. And Yang brought them more bottles of water and gentle embraces.

Two hours or so were whittled away in this manner before Ruby made a request to go to the bathroom. Weiss helped her up out of bed slowly, pulling Ruby's arm around her shoulders and holding onto her waist as they limped toward the nearest restroom on board the ship.

Ruby insisted Weiss wait outside for her, and the heiress made sure to keep her ears focused for any signs of distress. But things went without a hitch, and when she entered the bathroom to help Ruby wash her hands, Weiss decided to kill two birds with one stone.

"Since we're already here, let me redress your wound for you."

She had Ruby sit on the edge of the sink, and Weiss bent down to open the cabinets below. The action caused a sharp pain in her side, and a fast throbbing suddenly assaulted her ribs, but she did her best to ignore it.

Right now, Ruby's recovery took precedence over all else.

With the bandages in-hand, Weiss straightened her posture and helped Ruby lift up her shirt. With great care, Weiss began to remove the old bandages, her fingers brushing lightly against Ruby's stomach and sides.

She dropped the old bandages into the nearby waste bin, which was just about full to capacity. Ruby mumbled that they were set to be reaching familiar land in a few days now so they'd be able to clean up the ship a bit.

Weiss' eyes traveled across the wound which had done a surprising amount of healing in such a short amount of time. It was a long red line that started at the center of Ruby's ribcage and continued on down to just above her right hip.

A perfect continuation to Weiss' own cut.

Glumly, the heiress reached for the new bandages, refusing to meet Ruby's eyes.

"Does it still hurt?" she wondered.

Ruby realized Weiss was avoiding her gaze, likely out of guilt, being as her father had been the one to injure Ruby.

"No," she replied. "I kind of forgot it was there for a while."

Weiss was still, her vision focused on that cruel red line.

"I fear it'll leave a scar..."

Ruby's eyes widened a bit.

"A scar?" she repeated. "That's what you're worried about?"

Weiss lifted her face, but her expression was one of regret.

"You'll be forever marked because of this. Because of me..."

"Oh, Weiss..." Ruby leaned forward and hugged her shoulders gently. "I don't care if it leaves a scar. First of all, battle scars are totally awesome! I've always kinda wanted one!" she said with a grin.

But when she pulled away a little, her countenance became softer, yet more serious. "And besides," she murmured. "You've shown me just how beautiful scars can be."

With a small smile, she pressed her lips to Weiss' left eye, peppering light kisses over her cheek and eyelid. "I'll always be proud of this scar. Because you didn't get seriously hurt. Because it symbolizes my love for you, Weiss. I'll never come to regret it. Or you."

Ruby cradled the heiress' cheek and kissed her lips this time, letting it linger. She felt a soft sigh fan out against her lips, and Weiss rested their foreheads together.

"Me either," she murmured. "I'll never regret choosing you, Ruby."

"Never ever," the captain agreed.

Weiss kissed her cheek before pulling away again. Gently, she placed cool fingers over Ruby's wound, causing the younger girl to sigh happily at the sensation.

For a moment, Weiss rubbed her stomach with ginger motions, effectively chasing away the dull aches that had gathered there. Ruby thanked her and pecked her lips again.

Weiss then started to wrap the injury, tightly enough so the bandages wouldn't slip off, but loosely enough so that oxygen could still reach the skin.

"How's that?" she inquired when she'd finished.

Ruby pulled her shirt back down and shifted experimentally.

"Perfect! Thank you, Weiss." She hopped off the sink and stretched her arms up above her head, letting out a long yawn. "I'm still so full from that porridge. Maybe it really is best to just sleep today and get back to work tomorrow..."

"That sounds like a good plan to me," Weiss agreed.

She'd just offered Ruby her arm, but the younger girl paused before making contact. Her eyes went to Weiss' white sleep shirt, having found a small stain appearing there.

"Weiss, sit down," she said urgently, guiding her to the sink where Ruby herself had just sat. Quickly, she rolled up Weiss' shirt to find the bandages around her stomach were stained through with red. Ruby bit her lip. "Your wound reopened. Let me treat it."

She mimicked the motions Weiss had just gone through on her, unwrapping the old, bloodied bandages and throwing them away. Though smaller than her own, Weiss' wound was a bit deeper and was indeed oozing blood again.

Ruby grabbed a cloth and wetted it in the sink before pressing it lightly over the exposed gash. Weiss held onto her lover's shoulders to support herself, and Ruby could feel her trembling a little.

Beneath her palm, Ruby could feel the pounding of Weiss' heart. In an effort to soothe her, Ruby brushed their cheeks together.

"You should've said something if it hurt," she murmured.

"I'm sorry... I thought it would go away after a minute or two. I didn't mean to worry you." She kissed Ruby's temple in apology.

"It's okay," Ruby said. "Just... from now on, you don't have to hide it if you're in pain. Whether it's a wound I can see or not, I'll help you, Weiss."

The heiress nodded.

"Thank you, Ruby."

The brunette put the wet rag aside, relieved to find that the bleeding had stopped. Just to be safe, however, she poured out a bit of disinfectant and dabbed it onto the wound. She kissed Weiss' lips to distract her from the awful sting, waiting until the girl's body relaxed again before pulling away.

Ruby then wrapped her wound for her, checking to make sure Weiss was comfortable before pulling her shirt back down.

Together, they then made their way back to the room, enjoying the fresh air to the fullest as they walked.

Just before they reached the berth, they met with Yang who checked them both over with concerned eyes.

"Yang, don't worry," Ruby reassured her. "We're both fine. We're gonna get some shut-eye."

Her elder sister visibly relaxed at that.

"Good. We'll be docking probably sometime tomorrow so you two rest up, ya hear? Shout if ya need anything."

She kissed Ruby's forehead and patted Weiss' shoulder before hurrying off.

Together, the two girls retreated to bed, lying down and curling up beneath the extra blankets left by Pyrrha. Their wounds weren't aggravating them so much anymore, and when they felt the softness of the mattress beneath them, both girls sighed and settled in.

The lantern provided a soft glow in addition to the sunlight still present outside.

Weiss kept an arm around Ruby, petting through her hair and rubbing her back. After the things Ruby had said to her before, she didn't feel so guilty about her captain's scar anymore.

"At least our scars match," Weiss said.

"Yeah!" Ruby nodded. "They fit together like puzzle pieces! They're a symbol of our love." She dipped her head down to kiss Weiss' shirt, just over her left side where the cut was. "And only I can ever see yours," she mumbled.

"And I yours," Weiss agreed. "You swashbuckling scallywag."

Ruby chuckled and hugged her.

For a while, they were lost in tender touches and warm kisses, hands trailing patterns all along the other's body, committing her form to memory. Lips pressed over hair and skin and heartbeats, fingers threading and clutching.

Past the exterior of a pirate captain and a renegade Navy heiress, they were simply two souls in love.

Sleep came easily that night, as did dreams, sweeping over them like gentle waves, keeping them warm and unmolested by creeping anxieties until the sunrise brought them to a new day.

Only a few sunrises later, after they had docked and Ruby had distributed her spoils among the needy, the bandages came off for good.

There were indeed scars left behind, but neither girl regretted them.

In the comfort of their bed, it didn't matter if the marks were over eyes or over navels, as all were accepted and loved just as dearly as the girls themselves were.

Weiss observed how Ruby and her crew worked, how they were heros among starving cities ridden with famine and disease. Weiss was more than proud to be a part of that.

She kept adorning her Navy attire simply for old time's sake, and perhaps because Ruby had told her just how striking she looked in it.

The pair was back in action on the ship, reading maps and setting course for new horizons.

There'd be more encounters with enemy ships, more battles to be won and occasionally lost.

But even then there'd be more meals to share as a crew, more wine to enjoy, more stories to share, more dreams to be had, more kisses to steal.

All with each other.

Of all the things she'd stolen, Weiss' heart truly was Ruby's greatest treasure of all, and Weiss was proud to call herself a thief in regards to taking Ruby's.

Whatever lay ahead of them, be it calm seas or raging waters, they would face it together, so long as there was a sea to sail.

A/N: I'm sorry if the pacing was awkward. It's always tough to know when to end an AU fic because you can really go on forever with them. Thanks for reading till the end!

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