This is a romance fic set somewhere around Vol. 2 and 3. My goal is to better my writing and offer a sweet avenue for White Rose I've not encountered yet. I need your help in bettering my writing, if you are so inspired, and have left at the bottom of each chapter some prompts for feedback. If that bears no interest, feel free to pass it over. This chapter counts 5,929 words. Thank you for reading.

~0~

The sun shined warm on Ruby's cheeks as she ran across Beacon's campus entrance towards the heli-pad. Her classes are done for the day and she's rushed down to greet the returning Hunter and Huntress alumni. The seasoned vets are here to offer students their wealth of experience, expertise, and blunders they've witnessed in the whole of their careers. Ruby could not contain her excitement. The stories, the strategies! The weapons! She saw the bullhead setting down, and willed her feet faster. Closer and closer she got, until she skidded to a stop near the bullhead just as the doors opened.

Out of the bullhead stepped the most perfect pair of pants Ruby had ever seen.

She'd seen pants before, no doubt about it. Jaune and Ren wore pants all the time! But these pants. . . These were different. The way they curved around the midsection, the belt cinched just right, the legs flaring out every so slightly, giving a sway to each step. They had a blushing sapphire blue twinkling in the weave. Their bottoms were just slightly frayed, white cotton stark against navy. The pockets gleamed with bronze rivets, the zipper topped with a sturdy bronze button. They were perfect. Enticing. Glorious. Walking right at her.

They were walking right at her!

Ruby flushed, looking up from those pants. Her silver eyes met mahogany, a smirk tugging at the owner's cheek.

"Hello." The Huntress greeted.

"H-h-hi!" Ruby choked out. Her mind whizzed, and out spewed some malformed attempt at social grace. "I'm sorry, I wasn't staring - or - I was, but I didn't mean to be! I saw your pants and I normally wear skirts and I have never thought about pants before but looking at yours maybe I need to change my wardrobe - I mean - I never even considered pants as an option and we all change someti-"

A slim finger pressed itself to Ruby's lips, cutting off her runaway rant. "I understand perfectly." The Huntress purred. "I think you could pull off pants if you chose to." A twinkle danced in her eye." Then again. . ." She ran a finger over Ruby's ear, tucking a stray strand of hair behind. "I think the combat skirt suits you perfectly. Don't you?"

Ruby stood, mouth working like a fish, no answer coming to mind.

The Huntress pulled back. "What is your name?" She asked.

"Ruby." Ruby replied, almost mechanical. "Ruby Rose."

A well-manicured brow rose up. "Of Summer Rose? From team STRQ?"

Ruby nodded, the fog in her mind lifting. "Yep! She's my mom. Or, was. . ."

The Huntress' lips stretched into a big, wide smile. Ruby's heart skipped at the sight. "I knew her! She was in the graduating class when I first attended Beacon!" The Huntress waved over four others who had disembarked from the bullhead. "Hey everyone! This is Summer's daughter!"

"No way!" A hulking beast of a Hunter grinned. He was built like an Ursa, with a broad back and arms woven from thick muscles and scarred tissue. His hair was short and brown, spiked near the top. His garb was a plain forest green pants and tunic, brown boots on his feet and a leather satchel on his shoulder. His eyes were wrinkled from years of love and laughter. His body bore the scars of many battles. His back carried two massive sickles, with a third, long, skinny barrel in between them.

The beast planted himself next to his companion, and extended one slab of hand. "I'm Laurel Tips. Your mother was an absolute inspiration to me when I started at Beacon. She showed me what a real Huntress could do with speed and surprise!"

Ruby took his hand - his first three fingers more like - into her hand and shook. "Thanks. She's my inspiration too. . . It's nice to meet you Laurel." She let go.

Laurel straightened. "An inspiration to all of us." He gestured to the last three she'd yet to meet. "This is Lilac Meadows, Onyx Heel, and Wysteria Winds!" He pulled the four other Hunters into a hug. "Together we're team HLLOW!"

Ruby quirked her brow. "HLLOW?" She asked. She looked at the Huntress, the one with the pants.

The Huntress squirmed, worming her hand from Laurel's grip. "I'm Harvest Gold." She said. "I'm the team leader." She looked up at Laurel. "You gonna let me go today or. . .?"

Laurel laughed, freeing his teammates from the hug. "Of course, of course!"

"Harvest Gold." Ruby smiled. Her cheeks were getting warmer. The sun must hotter today than usual. "Nice to meet you too, all of you!"

"Likewise." Lilac Meadows said, her voice soft. She wore a lavender hood with black stripes. Her weapon was a pair of heavy revolvers with blades on the barrels, much like Ren's. "I hold great admiration for your mother. I would not be alive today without her wisdom."

Onyx scoffed. "I'm sure you'd be alive. Just worse off." He touched a hand to his chest. "Onyx Heel, Miss Rose. I never met your mother, but I have seen her impact firsthand in my teammates."

Ruby frowned. "You never met her? Aren't you all from the same class?"

Onyx froze, his face unreadable. "No. I'm from a year below these guys."

Wisteria piped up. "It's something we'll talk about during the assembly tomorrow." Wisteria smiled, her lips painted a brilliant orange, her hair long and grey. "Beacon is structured and predictable. The outside world is. . . not."

Ruby cocked her head. A five member team. She hadn't heard of that before. She opened her mouth to ask further questions, but then the familiar clack of heels sounded behind her. She turned to the source.

"Ah, team HLLOW." Glynda Goodwitch greeted. "Welcome back to Beacon."

"Good to be back Miss Goodwitch!" Harvest Gold casually saluted.

Glynda held her crop up. "You've been out of school long enough. Please call me Glynda." She pointed the crop right at Ruby. "I see you've met Ruby Rose. She's one of our rising stars." Glynda pointed the crop at Ruby's nose. "Who needs to be getting back to her team before they wonder where she is." Glynda cocked her head back at Beacon.

Ruby saluted. "Aye aye ma'am!" She turned to HLLOW. "Uh. . . Thanks!" Her eyes met Harvest Gold's, her stomach dropping at the sight. "BYE!" She yelled, and zipped off.

Harvest Gold watched Ruby disappear. "She's fast."

Glynda nodded. "Yes, she is. Sometimes I fear she'll never slow down, appreciate the finer things in life."

Harvest Gold pinched the hem of her pants, smiling to herself. "Oh, I don't know about that." With one last look at the speedy student, she turned and followed Glynda to the temporary quarters on campus, HLLOW close behind.

Ruby zipped around Beacon, her thoughts turning the conversation with HLLOW in her head. She totally forgot to ask more about their weapons! Their biggest hunts! She had them all to herself for five minutes, and all they talked about was her mom. And those pants. . .

She could not stop thinking about those pants.

~0~

Ruby slammed through the door of her team's dorm. "I'm baaaack!" She announced.

Weiss jumped, startled. "Ruby! I'm trying to study here and I would prefer not being ambushed by your insanity!" She picked up a textbook that fell off her bed when Ruby barged in.

Ruby chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck. "Sorry Weiss." She looked around the room. "Where's Yang and Blake?" Ruby asked, no sign of sister or ninja present.

"They went to practice combination movesets." Weiss replied, adjusting her note stack. She rested the textbook in the crook of her knee, her notes resting atop her other leg. "Something about Yang's semblance, Gambol's ribbon, and the fundamental nature of wrecking balls."

Ruby laughed this time. "Oh boy, that's gonna be so cool!"

Weiss waved Ruby off. "Yes yes yes, your sister has finally embraced her true form as a rock. Now settle down, I need to study." She flipped the page in her copy of Nevermores Never More : Aerial And Grounded Strategies.

Ruby rocked back and forth on her toes and heels, lips pursed. "Hey, Weiss? Before you get back into it, can I ask you a question?"

Weiss rolled her eyes. "What is it Ruby?" She snapped.

"Do you think I'd look good in pants?"

Weiss frowned. She looked up from her notes. "Pants." She deadpanned.

"Y-yeah." Ruby felt warm. "I went and met the Hunters who are presenting tomorrow, and one of them was wearing pants, and she looked good in them. I mean, really good, and I was wondering if you thought I might look good in them. I mean, you're the only one here with an advanced sense for fashion. Yang has her own style and Blake is Blake, but you've got experience, right?" Ruby rambled out.

Weiss set her pen down, her attention momentarily diverted. She pinched her chin in thought. "I haven't seen you wear anything other than that combat skirt and pajamas, but. . . If you got a few tops to match, I think you'd pull off pants quite well."

Ruby fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. "Right. Thanks."

Weiss clapped her hands together. "Good. Now, if there is nothing else, I really need to study." She turned back to her notes.

"Actually Weiss, I was wondering. . . Would you go shopping with me?" Ruby mumbled, bright red.

"Sure Ruby, no problem." Weiss replied. Then, she froze. "Wait, what?"

"Would you go shopping with me?" Ruby repeated. "To get some p-pants?"

Weiss did a double take. "You want me to help you try on and buy clothes?" Weiss checked.

"Yes." Ruby answered.

"And you're submitting to this willingly?" Weiss double checked.

"Yes." Ruby repeated.

Weiss pushed her book and notes aside. She rose from her bed and strode to Ruby. She put both hands on Ruby's shoulders and looked Ruby dead in the eye. "Ruby Rose, I will go shopping with you." Weiss declared, as if all her dreams had come true.

"Great!" Ruby said. She felt warm again. Maybe the AC's broken. "How about tomorrow? It's a half day 'cause of the assembly, we can go right after?" Ruby asked.

Weiss raised her arms to the sky. "It's a plan!" She declared. "Ruby Rose, I'm going to be the best shopping mate you'll ever have!"

Ruby nodded, a smile wide on her cheeks. "Awesome!"

~0~

The assembly hall was packed to the brim with students. Ruby had trouble finding a spot near the front and had to acquiesce to the back, standing next to Weiss and the rest of her team. Yang and Blake were just off to the side.

Yang yawned. "I wonder when this is going to get started. I'm ready for a good nap!"

Blake rolled her eyes. "They said noon Yang, which means they'll start in a few minutes."

Yang folded her arms. "Is it even worth it to listen to these old farts? It's not like Grimm slaying has changed much in the last decade, and we've got better weapons to boot!" Yang flexed her arms, Ember Celica proud on her wrists.

Ruby frowned. "Yaaaaaang!" She whined. "They're really cool! I met them yesterday and they left a great impression!"

Weiss nodded. "And they're ten years our senior Yang. Listen to what they say and you might - might - learn something."

Yang smiled. "Ice Queen's got frostbite this morning!"

Weiss pursed her lips. "I do not have frostbite. I simply appreciate the lessons my betters have for me." Weiss smirked. "Something you could take to heart if your brain wasn't 90% bone." Weiss teased.

Yang folded her arms, taking Weiss' jab in stride. "That's funny, I didn't think you knew anyone was better than you." She teased back.

Weiss rolled her eyes, smiling. Yang would pay for that quip, she promised herself. Later.

The lights dimmed in the assembly hall, the stage the only source of bright. A hush fell over the student body. RWBY stood at attention.

Ozpin took center stage, his cane tapping the floor with each step. "Good afternoon Hunters and Huntresses. When you first arrived at Beacon, you were warned of the horrors and trials that our kind face every day. Today, you will bear witness to those who have faced those horrors firsthand, and glimpse the long road you have before you." He gestured stage-right. Five Hunters walked onstage. "Meet Team HLLOW." The name flashed on the screen high above. Some students gasped. Five members on a single team? An alien thought to the young of Beacon.

Ozpin nodded to Harvest Gold. "You have the floor."

Ozpin walked off-stage, and Harvest Gold stepped further into the light. "Hello Beacon academy. We, as of this year, began our journey as Hunters twelve years ago, and graduated this institution only eight years ago. We are seasoned veterans and have slain countless Grimm."

"Countless?" Yang asked under her breath. Blake elbowed her side, shushing her partner.

Harvest Gold continued. "We were invited today due to our unique experience. As some of you have seen, we are five strong, even though most teams of Hunters are a traditional four. Has anyone here given thought as to why that is?" Harvest Gold looked around the room, as if expecting an answer. None came. "Four people means two sets of partners. An even match. Four people means one leader to three followers. In this, I believe there is a certain balance struck. One who makes the choices and three opinions therein. The leader leads, and the squad has enough minds to offer proper deliberation.

"We have five. There are no sets of partners in our squad. Four minds to one leader can create a slight imbalance, a split. The squad has too much weight with four minds, and too little weight with only two. If you follow this logic of mine, then you may ask, why would I, one who led a team of four, invite a fifth to join?"

Harvest Gold let the silence hang. A frown was set on her face as she met the eyes in the audience with her own severe stare. When the tension rang high, she broke the silence. "Our fifth member is the last surviving member of their own squad. They had no team to call their own. So we made room in ours. Onyx, step forward." Onyx stepped abreast with Harvest Gold. "Onyx, please recount the day of your squad's death, in your words and your words alone." Harvest Gold stepped back.

Onyx nodded. He closed his eyes and took a breath. "It was a warm summer. I remember green leaves and marigolds. The breeze felt cool against the sweat of my neck. My team was ahead fifteen feet. I brought up the rear.

"We were called TORN. Tabby, Onyx, Rich, and Night. Tabby was a short-range fighter, goat faunus, and an agile climber. She used a shotgun-axe coated in fire dust. She was monstrous, and destroyed Grimm with a glee I've yet to see matched.

"Rich was a mid-range fighter. He used a rifle-axe, and pelted Grimm with ice dust shot, pinning them to the ground so we could execute them or use them as cover against their friends.

"Night was our assassin. I'd seen her slice apart a King Taijitu and be halfway killing the other just as it noticed it's friend was gone. She was my partner."

Onyx pulled his weapon from his back. A halberd-sniper with a barrel magazine and a long chain coiled at the bottom. "I was bringing up the rear as the only long-range support. My job was to cover Rich and Tabby, and provide distractions for any Grimm Night snuck upon. I was the support. I managed the battlefield like a chessboard, feeding info to Tabby about enemy positions, velocity, and potential choke points.

"We'd been graduated and licensed six months. Our mission was a dangerous one, with excellent lien to match. A Death Stalker nest needed clearing, and Beowolves had been sighted in the area days prior. No knowing if they were still around, and the Stalkers had grown bolder the more their numbers grew. Several settlements had chipped in to be rid of them, and we picked up the job.

"I remember the moment my team had died. I had taken a shot at a Death Stalker they were engaging, knocking it's stinger off course. It smashed the ground right next to Tabby. She smiled my way. She trusted me to keep her safe. They all did."

Onyx took a deep breath. His fists were clenched at his sides. Ruby looked to his teammates and saw Laurel stock still. Wisteria had a hand to her mouth. Lavender held her holstered guns with immense tension.

Harvest Gold was crying. She stood still, and tears were freely streaming down her face.

Onyx continued. "A Beowolf caught me by surprise, and when I turned to engage three of its friends surrounded me. The first strike had taken a fifth of my Aura, and all of my attention. A fifth Beowolf leapt from the trees, and moments later I was unconscious and drained.

"I woke up minutes later. The Beowolves were dead, and Night was carrying me. She'd been stabbed by a Stalker's stinger on her way to get me. Rich and Tabby had been surrounded, their trust blinding them to the danger. I woke up and everyone I knew and loved for four years was dead or dying."

Tears streamed down Onyx's stoic face. He stood still as stone as he recounted his memory. "They are buried, and the fault is squarely on me. I needed to secure my nest before giving the go-ahead to my leader. I needed to set traps and alarms and define three other positions I could flee to if I was compromised. I did none of this. I was arrogant. After a mistake like that, no team would have me and I deserved nothing less."

Onyx gestured to HLLOW. "And then they took me in. HLLW took me in, and I have served them as their sniper for seven years. That is my story, in my words." Onyx stepped back, wiping his face with the back of his hand.

Harvest Gold took stage again. "Hunters who make grave mistakes are worth more alive and accepted than they are dead and rejected. No one is above flaw. I've made many errors that never saw a funeral. But believe me, it was a close call every time. We do not fight humans. We do not fight animals. We fight a force of nature. All the misery and pain in this world incarnated to spread itself further. To reject and shun Onyx, and hunters like him, is to make a world where Grimm feel comfortable. Strong. To accept and love Onyx is to make a world where the Grimm are unwelcome."

Harvest Gold stared down the crowd. "You are young, and blood runs hot in youth. Look to your neighbor and recognize that your squabbles and fears and bigotry and hate only make a world where Grimm thrive. The very enemy you seek to destroy."

Harvest Gold took a deep breath. "And if any of you think my choice was easy, or simple, or made in ignorance, then let me offer you this. Tabby, leader of TORN, was the love of my life. My fiance. The same who died from Onyx's fatal error. That is all. We will take questions in the courtyard tomorrow during lunch. Goodbye." Harvest Gold marched off stage, and HLLOW followed.

A grim silence settled upon the crowd of students. Some looked to their current bullies and tormentors, and those same tormentors looked upon themselves. They'd never given thought that their actions at home strengthened the enemy beyond the walls. A few grappled with HLLOW's selfless act, and wondered if they could truly be capable of the same.

Ozpin retook the stage, his cane smacking down on the floor. Students faced their headmaster, jolted from their introspection. "Hunters and Huntresses," Ozpin began. "You will have today to reflect upon the actions and declarations of team HLLOW. I want you all to focus on your actions not as individuals, but as a whole. For when one of us fails, we all fail. And when one of us triumphs, we all triumph. Think to your actions and remember that you do not comprise one lonely life. You represent the full force of humanity, the entirety of Remnant, in your every step and every swing. Choose your path wisely. Ask if your actions are helping your team, your world, or if they serve the Grimm, and oppose all that we hold dear. Dismissed." With that, Ozpin left the stage.

Ruby felt shook to her core, her stomach knotted up and queasy. What if her actions led to the death of her team? Was she ready for that day? Could she forgive herself and find a new purpose, as Onyx did?

The weight of her friend's lives pressed on her back. Ruby slouched, her mind buzzing with possible futures, all of them leading towards death.

A gentle hand laid itself on her shoulder. "Ruby." Weiss said quietly. "Are you okay?"

Ruby forced a smile. "Sure! Why wouldn't I be?" She asked.

"You're crying." Weiss said simply. Ruby blinked. Her cheeks felt wet. She hadn't noticed. Ruby reached up with her hand to wipe the tears away, but before she could, Weiss stopped her. "Here." Weiss said, proffering a handkerchief.

"Thanks." Ruby took the cloth and dabbed her eyes. "That was pretty intense. To lose his whole team like that. For Harvest to lose Tabby. . ."

"Yeah." Yang sighed. "I'm going to the gym. I need to work through this." She looked at Blake. "Wanna come?"

Blake nodded. "We'll see you two later." She said to Ruby and Weiss. "Enjoy your shopping."

Ruby blinked. "Oh! Right, shopping." Ruby turned to Weiss. "Do you still want to go?"

Weiss nodded, arms crossed. "They started our weekend with a downer assembly." She shot the stage an accusatory stare. "And I personally think new clothes are great for new outlooks." She held her elbow out. "Shall we, partner?"

Smiling through the sad, Ruby laced her elbow with Weiss'. "Onward! To pants!"

"To pants." Weiss echoed, eager for the distraction.

~0~

The airship ride to town was quiet, Ruby taking the time to collect her thoughts. Weiss seemed to be doing the same, but Ruby couldn't be sure. Weiss held her heart close to the chest. Not only was it good for the heart to be in the chest, it was easier to hide it from everyone else.

Ruby hoped Weiss was okay.

They disembarked and immediately beelined for the most expensive, most varietous shop in town. The Hemming Way. Weiss insisted, and the moment they stepped into the shop, Ruby knew why. The shop was three stories of the latest in dresses, skirts, purses, belts, garters, lingerie (no thank you), and of course, pants.

Ruby could not afford a single thing here, and Weiss knew it, proclaiming it would go on her tab before Ruby could retreat to the nearest thrift store.

With that taken care of, Weiss took Ruby to the women's section and proceeded to give Ruby the crash course of a lifetime. She demonstrated the grace of silk pants. The firm rustic of jeans. The curiosity of high-rise and the swishy allure of bell-bottoms. Some pants stretched, some had pockets, and some had no pockets at all! Actually, most of them had no pockets. Weiss said it was to sell purses, and Ruby pretended to understand garment economics. She fiddled with the hem of one pair of navy blue jeans and sighed. There was so much to know. Would these even fit her?

As if Weiss read her mind, she took her over to the assistant in that section and requested Ruby be measured post haste. The assistant, a leopard faunas in a black vest and slacks, complied. Ruby noted the pants on the faunas looked good. Very good. Then Ruby blushed as the faunas stepped close, wrapping her waist with measuring tape and taking the number down.

"I-I-Is this really necessary?" Ruby asked as the faunas kneeled.

"You want the pants to fit, right Ruby?" Weiss asked.

"Well, yeah-" Before Ruby could finish her thought, the faunus stuck her hand up Ruby's skirt to measure her inseam. Ruby squeaked, her thought escaping her.

"Done." The faunas said, ripping the paper off the pad and handing it to Weiss. "If you require any assistance in finding the perfect pair, do not hesitate to call for me."

"Thank you Cere." Weiss replied, reading the nametag. "I'm sure we'll find something to our satisfaction."

Cere bowed and resumed her post. Weiss took a crimson Ruby by the hand and pulled her down the aisle. Weiss took one look at the paper and began pulling items off the rack, throwing them over her arm. Once she had a bundle, she held them out to Ruby. "Hold this please?"

Ruby, still red, held out her arms. "O-o-o-okay." She stammered.

Weiss arched a brow. "You okay there Ruby?" She looked her partner up and down. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I'm fine!" Ruby said, a little loudly. Cere's ear twitched. "I'm fine." Ruby repeated, quieter. "I wasn't expecting her to measure my leg like. . . that."

Weiss chuckled. "It's part of her job, Ruby. She does it all the time. Though, I suppose I could've warned you." Weiss pulled a few more items from the rack. "You haven't been in too many shops where they take your measure, have you?"

Ruby shook her head. "No, but even so, I could've used a little warning. . ."

Weiss nodded. "I'm sorry. I'm so used to it, I didn't think you'd find it uncomfortable."

"She stuck her hand up my skirt!" Ruby hissed.

Weiss smirked. "She did, did she? Maybe I need new measurements." She quipped.

"What!?" Ruby spluttered.

"Oh, look, the fitting rooms." Weiss remarked, diverting course. "Take all of these," Weiss handed Ruby the rest of the pile, "And try them on. Be sure to show me, I want to offer a second opinion."

Ruby huffed, the weight of the pants heavy in her arms. "Ooookay." She grunted. Ruby heaved the pants into the fitting room and closed the door. She dropped the pants onto the bench and wiped her brow.

The fitting room was bigger than the thrift shops she'd been to, about eight by eight. The back wall had the bench, a few hooks to hang clothes, and the other wall was devoted entirely to a mirror. Ruby caught her eye in the mirror and stood straight. She looked at her current wardrobe. Corset, skirt, boots, and her signature cloak. She fiddled with the clasp and hung her cloak on a hook. "Don't worry, you'll be back on me soon." She whispered to the fabric.

There was a knock on the fitting room door. "Occupied!" Ruby squeaked out.

"It's just me dolt." Weiss said. "I just realized your corset is not going to match the pants, so I grabbed a few summer tops to go with them."

Ruby sighed, relieved. "Okay." She opened the door and took the tops.

Weiss smiled. "Chop chop Ruby! I want to see how these fit!" And with that, the fitting room shut. Ruby could hear Weiss humming to herself. She was really enjoying this.

Ruby straightened her back. New pants, new outlook. New pants, new outlook. She pulled off her skirt and corset and tried the first pair on, pulling the waist up by the belt loops. Those were handy. She threw on an orange summer shirt and took a look.

Hm. Ruby twisted, showing the mirror her butt. Then again the other way. She patted the back pocket, her lips quirking. The pants were nice, sure. They felt snug, a light blue denim with frayed thighs and legs. She felt good in these pants. Great even!

So why didn't they feel as good as they looked on Harvest Gold?

"Ruby!" Weiss called out. "Come out, I want to see!"

Ruby sighed, shoulders sagging. "Coming Weiss!" She pushed the door open. Then, to feel official, she struck a pose. Hands on her hips, one leg forward, chest out. She threw on a smile. "How do I look?"

Weiss looked her up and down, her normally pale face a faint blush. Ruby frowned. Was Weiss hot? Weiss' eyes met Ruby's. "They're wonderful Ruby! I think the flare at the bottom really suits you. And this may be my bias, of course it is, but blue really suits you!" Weiss smiled.

Ruby tugged a strand of hair near her ear. "Really? I thought I might look silly." She looked down at her pants, almost brushing them down like she would her skirt, before stopping herself and settling her hands behind her back. "You like them?"

Weiss nodded. "I love them." She said, softly.

Ruby gave a thumbs up. "Well, first pair down, a hundred to go!" Ruby jumped back into the fitting room, the door swinging shut. She dropped her current pair and tossed them to the side, mentally naming the pile 'new pants.'

Ruby continued to try on new pairs of pants, stepping out for Weiss' professional advice. Weiss emphatically approved several pairs, and outright rejected others. When pressed, Weiss would mumble that those pairs were 'particularly unflattering', and refused to elaborate any further.

On the fifth or sixth pair, Ruby hesitated on another pair. "Hey Weiss?" Ruby called out.

"Yes Ruby?" Weiss answered.

"What did you think of the assembly today?" Ruby asked.

Weiss was quiet a moment. "It was what we needed to hear." She said with confidence.

"What we needed to hear?" Ruby echoed. Sure, it was valuable to know veteran experiences, but this. . .

"Yes. Beacon is a Hunting school, first and foremost. Sure, there's cliques, hormones, drama, unrequited love." Weiss paused at that. "All the pitfalls of youth. And we must leave those pits behind faster than anyone else our age. We have taken on defending all of humanity. We cannot do that if we are at each other's throats." Weiss sighed. "I learned that with Blake, and I think that assembly reinforced my conviction."

Ruby relaxed, pulling the new pair of pants up fully. "Yeah." She zipped up the black cotton and buttoned it up.

"What about you?" Weiss asked.

Ruby pursed her lips. "Well, it got to me a little." Ruby admitted.

There was surprise in Weiss' voice. "How so?" She pressed.

Ruby shrugged, pulling on a blue summer shirt this time. "I mean, the consequence of one part of one team missing something small. Something. . . Almost boring." Ruby looked her reflection in the mirror. "I saw a piece of me in Onyx. What if it's me messing up, and suddenly Blake, Yang. . ." Ruby gulped. "You. All dead. The thought of it won't leave my head."

Weiss knocked on the door. "Come out here Ruby." She asked.

Ruby pushed the door open. Weiss stood just a pace away, eyes shimmering. Slowly, she raised her arms to her sides, offering an embrace. Ruby accepted, wrapping her body around Weiss' slender frame. Her heart warmed at the contact, rare as it was with prim and proper Schnee. In this moment, it was Weiss and Ruby.

"You're a wonderful leader Ruby." Weiss whispered. "And, one of these days, we're going to face something that'll hurt." Weiss pulled back, her hands on Ruby's shoulders. "When we do, we'll do it together. Right?"

"Right." Ruby nodded.

"Good." Weiss looked down. "These are definitely a yes." She smirked, pulling away.

Ruby looked down. "Yeah?" She scratched the back of her head. "I can't help but feel like I'm missing something."

Weiss arched her brow. "Oh? What would that be?"

Ruby shrugged. "I guess I thought I'd feel. . ." Different? Alluring? As powerful and fashionable as Harvest Gold? Ruby frowned. Then an idea hit her. "Maybe I feel awkward!"

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Ruby, you're made of awkward."

Ruby held her hands up. "No, no, like, I've never worn pants before, right? And here I am, wearing pants, next to my partner, who isn't wearing pants!"

Weiss palmed her face. "I can guess where this is going."

"Would you try on some pants with me, Weiss?" Ruby asked, eyes blinking earnestly.

Weiss sighed. "If it'll make you feel better, I'll try some pants on with you Ruby Rose."

Ruby clapped her hands together. "Yay!" She ran to the bench and sat down. "I'll wait right here!"

Weiss pulled open the fitting room door. "You won't be waiting long, we're about the same size." She shut the door behind her.

Ruby grinned. "Really?! That's lucky!"

"It sure is Ruby." Weiss said. The faint rustling of cloth hit the ground. Ruby waited patiently, her heel tapping the floor. She'd never seen Weiss in pants before! This would be a new experience. And maybe she could figure out why these pants weren't filling her with that strange, buzzy feeling. Weiss would surely help with that.

A moment later, the door opened. "Well?" Weiss asked. "What do you think?"

Ruby couldn't think. Weiss' legs were garbed in the sleekest pair of pants Ruby had ever seen. Her eyes devoured the delicious curves at Weiss' waist, skimming down the thigh to the sharp relief of the knee, and barreled down to Weiss' ankle, her socked foot peeking out from under the denim. . .

Oh. Shit.

Ruby didn't like the pants Harvest Gold was wearing at the launchpad! She liked Harvest Gold in those pants! Worse yet, Ruby didn't like the pants Weiss was wearing. She liked Weiss in the pants she was wearing!

Ruby's entire body turned a brilliant shade of crimson. Her heart was racing, her mind was running a million miles in seconds! She couldn't like Weiss, Weiss was her partner! Partners don't date! Oh, Ruby was the worst partner in the history of partners!

"T-t-they look good. . ." Ruby choked out.

Weiss frowned. "Is something wrong?" She asked.

Is something wrong? Is the sexual awakening of a teenager wrong? Is it wrong that said awakening is unlocked by her teammate in a pair of curve hugging, deliciously apple-bottomed PANTS!?

"NO! No." Ruby responded, standing abruptly. "Um, I just remembered. I left the stove turned on. On! I left the stove on. So, I'm gonna go. Turn off. The stove I mean." And with that, Ruby zipped off, an after-image left behind.

New pants. New outlook.

~0~

Feedback Prompts :

1. How was the characterization? Did Ruby sound like Ruby? Did Weiss sound like Weiss?

2. How was the pacing? The transitions? Too fast, too slow? Were you able to clearly follow the story?

3. How was the setting? Did you want more description or less? Where?

4. Do you enjoy the story?

Thank you for your time and energy. I appreciate your view, and wish you a wonderful day.

-Skull025