Disclaimer: RWBY belong to Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth. GrimGrave owns nothing.

Happy Pride and happy Whiterose week! I think? I might be late, who knows. Not a prompt, I just decided to hit two birds with one stone. Enjoy!

Best Friends

Introduction

The gentle buzz of the doorbell had started it all.

Summer dusted off her hands on her apron. "Yang, please watch your little sister for a moment." She promptly went to answer the door.

Little Ruby Rose didn't know what exactly happened at the time, distracted as she was by her older sister's antics. From what she could remember later in life, her mom returned to the kitchen with an unfamiliar woman behind her and next to her, a small girl clinging to the woman's hand and an older girl behind them.

"Girls, I would like to introduce you to our new neighbours," Summer said as she kneeled down. "Miss Schnee is going to live right next to us from now on so I want you to get along with her daughters, okay?"

The older woman – Miss Schnee – smiled at them as Ruby and Yang looked up. "Aw, your children are adorable, Miss Rose. Sweethearts, why don't you introduce yourselves to our neighbours?"

"Winter," the older of the two stated rather noncommittedly. Ruby only learned much later that Winter was a lot more nonchalant in her early pre-teen years.

"H-Hello…" The other girl, who was still clung onto her mother's hand, said shyly. "I'm W-Weiss…"

"Hi, I'm Yang!" The young blonde exclaimed with a toothy grin. Ever the cheery one.

Ruby took a curious step forward, her eyes locked on Weiss. "I'm…Ruby…" She looked down at the floor and poked at some crumbs with her tiny foot. "…Wanna play with my toys?"

Playing

Weiss had graciously been welcomed to play with Ruby while her mother helped the movers with the last of the boxes and furniture. Stepping inside Ruby's room, she had been taken aback by the amount of toys the girl had, but was promised she could play with anyone she liked.

In the future neither of them would be able to remember how the playdate had ended up in a fight, but it happened, but they told their own children the story nonetheless.

"No, you're the dummy!"

"Shut uuup!" Weiss stomped the floor for emphasis with as much strength a small child could. "You…you… You dolt!"

Ruby's silver pools teared and her lower lip began to tremble. Her face was warm and red as she pouted angrily.

"You meanie!"

In a fit of anger she tackled her newfound friend – which she would later claim was a push, but she tripped right after – into her bed which happened to be right behind them.

What they did remember was how their fight had ended.

They bounced.

Then bounced some more.

The anger quickly dissipated as they began to jump and bounce over the bed and eventually broke out laughing as they kept on going, the toys forgotten along with their silly fight.

Once they had managed to calm down with their sides smarted from laughing too much, Ruby held out her pinkie-finger.

"What's that?"

"A pwomise," Ruby stated. "To be best fwiends and never fight again!"

The white-haired girl looked puzzled. Then she giggled and held out her pinkie-finger. "Okay! Best fwiends!"

It was such a simple, childish gesture that carried so much weight.

The beginning of a routine

Living next door of each other, Ruby (alongside her mother) volunteered to pick up Weiss on her way to school every day while insisting on holding her hand the entire way. Weiss had quickly warmed up to it, but nothing could prepare her for when one day, Ruby had a big announcement for the class.

"Weiss is my bestie friend!"

Thinking back on it, it was rather silly. But that statement had carried a bigger meaning than what they realized at the time.

Eventually the two of them could walk to school on their own – the whole five minute walk! – and always hand-in-hand.

Jealousy

Weiss and Ruby always walked to what was now junior high-school together as the years went on. Outside of school, Ruby treasured moments like this when she could be alone with Weiss.

At school she found herself pouting over how Weiss had gained so much popularity as the smart, cool kid. Everyone flocked around her and demanded her attentions, wanting to play with her and outright be her best friend!

Didn't they know she was Ruby's best friend?

As per usual it always left her in a bitter mood which she dispelled as soon as school was over. It had become its own routine that made school insufferable and the walk back pure elation when she could hold Weiss' hand. Today there was no such luck as Weiss tugged at her sleeve on their way back home.

"Ruby…Are you angry?"

"No!" She shot back with a pout. "I'm not!"

"You sound angry…"

"I'm not!"

"…Did I do something?" The raw vulnerability in her tone made the redhead cease mid-step and spin back around.

The white-haired girl was a few steps behind her, gaze cast to the ground, and Ruby dashed over in the blink of an eye.

She grabbed Weiss' hands in panic. "N-NO! No you d-didn't! You can't do anything wrong!" She cried out. "I was just…I was just…!"

Ruby hung her head in shame.

"Ruby…?"

"I'm stupid. I don't like it when the others are talking to you all the time and wanting to be your best friend…"

"Ruby…"

"That's supposed to be me…"

"Ruby." The ashen-haired girl cupped her cheek and forced their eyes to meet. "You will always be my best friend."

She sniffled. "Really?"

"Really. We made a promise, remember?" Weiss held up her pinkie-finger and smiled. "Always."

The redhead practically beamed at her as her heart skipped a single beat in elation. "Always!"

Coming out

It was midway through high-school, as they were studying together in the library in a remote corner of privacy, that Ruby had confessed something personal – something she had figured out a few years now, it turned out.

"Hey, uhm…Weiss?"

"Mm?" The snow-haired girl didn't look up from neatly displayed notebooks and textbooks as she poured them over.

"Can I tell you…?" Her words trailed off. "Ah…No; I need to tell you something."

There was a hint of amusement in her tone as she replied, "That you didn't actually study for the test tomorrow? You could always try asking that upperclassman again for notes if you're desperate. What was her name again? Velvet?"

"Ha ha. I did study, thank you very much o yee of little faith." Ruby snickered and felt a bit of relief when her friend joined in. Then it was right back to worryingly chewing her bottom lip as she mustered up courage, her gaze barely taking in the girl next to her from the corner of her eye. "No, I…I think… No, I know that…" She sighed. Her body trembled. "I'm gay."

Weiss' hand stopped and she glanced up. "Oh. I see."

Ruby gingerly drummed her fingers over the table. "You're not…disgusted?"

"Why on earth would I be, Ruby?" Her smile said it all. "We're best friends. You being a lesbian are not going to change that."

The redhead released a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. "You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that."

"From the look on your face, I can only imagine," she replied. "So I take it you're going to tell Yang and your mom after school?"

Ruby sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I might as well. I just hope they take it as well as you did."

"I've known them for almost as long as you have, Ruby. I know they will think no less of you." She reached out and gently squeezed the redhead's shoulder. "Do you want me to be there with you?"

"Nah, it's cool! If anything happens I'll just climb out of my window into your bedroom," she replied with a toothy grin and a laugh that earned them both a mild glare from the librarian.

Weiss stifled her giggle. "Could you please use a ladder this time then? Our moms nearly had a heart-attack the last time when you attempted to jump over."

"I caught the edge didn't I?"

Weiss chuckled and shook her head. "You're impossible…Can I ask you something though?"

"Shoot."

"What even is it about women that you like?"

"Oh." Ruby rested her chin in her palm, her gaze wandering aimlessly. "I don't find men attractive. Like, sure, I can admit that a guy can be handsome, but there's no attraction: romantic or sexual." She tapped the butt of her pen against the papers. "I look at women and my heart just…melts, you know? Women can be soft and strong…They know what a woman wants," she added with a playful wiggle of her eyebrows. "And boobs. Gotta love them."

"Dolt." Weiss shook her head, but a smile was still curling her lips. "I guess I never thought of it that way."

"Neither did I until I was thirteen."

"Huh." Weiss paused. "Hey, Ruby?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for telling me."

"Thanks for staying by my side."

They shared a smile and turned back to their books…though Weiss found herself glancing back at Ruby on occasion with a scrutinizing gaze.

Tension

It was October 31st – Ruby's birthday.

It was also Ruby's last birthday before graduation and by next year she would've likely moved out by then.

Her mother had wanted to make it extra special, but as per usual Ruby kept it simple with close friends and family, a cake, and videogames, and Weiss was happy with that. Yang, Ruby's older half-sister, was there of course and so was Blake Belladonna, a friend of hers who had gotten to know Ruby through the blonde. Their classmates, Jaune, Nora, Ren, and Pyrrha had been invited as well. Winter had dropped by for a quick visit (likely for the sake of courtesy) before she just as quickly left.

And then there was Velvet Scarlatina, a former upperclassman.

Weiss hadn't really interacted with the brunette; she had only met her in passing every now and then when the older student helped Ruby with studying. From what she had witnessed their interactions had been brief so to see her here stroke Weiss as odd, but she didn't dwell on it. Ruby had invited her and that was that, and she seemed friendly enough. Like sitting next to her at the table where Weiss usually sat whenever she was invited over, over the years.

No biggie. Really.

Or sitting a bit closer to her on the couch as the group held their own videogame tournament.

Odd, but Weiss paid it no mind.

It was just surprisingly annoying when the brunette draped an arm over Ruby's shoulders like that.

The day had been a lot of fun; from cakes to videogames, it had been lively until the sun had set and people were starting to get back home. Nora and Ren had been the first to drive home when the ginger had become more affectionate towards the more reserved Ren.

Jaune was next after an hour or two and had offered to drive Pyrrha home (something the redhead seemed to appreciate a LOT) and when Blake had called a taxi and Yang retreated to her room, there was just Weiss, Ruby, and Velvet left.

And it felt weird.

One: Ruby and Velvet were still sitting really close to each other despite that there was more room on the couch now.

Thinking back on it, the former upperclassman had made excuses to hang out with Ruby fairly often. She helped her with studying which was the most common excuse, especially with exams around the corner, and of course they had managed to befriend each other over similar hobbies (Velvet was more of a gamer than Weiss and she also studied engineering in college which was Ruby's dream.)

…And there had been more than one occurrence where Ruby had unintentionally neglected Weiss to hang out with Velvet.

A small spike of annoyance made itself known to the snow-haired girl and before she realized it her knuckles had turned white from the strain.

Two: she felt like a damn third wheel.

But that wasn't the worst of it.

When Velvet finally decided she needed to head back home she hugged Ruby at the doorway - a hug that lasted a little too long and hands roaming across their backs gingerly.

A hug that made Weiss' stomach churn and Anger rearing its ugly head, followed immediately by cold dread zipping down her spine.

Her breath hitched in her throat.

Was she disgusted by women being that close? Ruby was a lesbian after all and the implications—

No.

Was Weiss actually a homophobe? Now that she witnessed what could be interpreted as homosexual behaviour, however mild, did it actually bother her? She hadn't thought about it when Ruby had come out to her back then, but she had not seen her actually engage in anything suggesting she was in fact gay.

Oh no.

No no no no nonononono—

That couldn't be the case!

"Weiss? Are you ok?" Silver eyes were suddenly way too close. "You look pale."

She wracked her head for excuses.

"Uh…Probably just the beer," she lied. "I don't think it's for me."

Ruby giggled. "It's an acquired taste as my uncle would say. I think I'll pass on it, too." She smiled at her and pulled her into a hug. It was warm. "Thanks for coming today, Weiss."

She returned the embrace, taut as her body was. The contact…was nice. Hugging was nice – hugging Ruby was nice.

The perfume that lingered on her wasn't Ruby's and her face scrunched up.

"Yeah, no problem. I think I should head home though, prepare for bed," she said a little too quickly. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"I should probably do the same. Goodnight Weiss."

"Yeah, goodnight…"

She regretted the haste in her steps as she made her way out the door.

When Weiss returned to her room she threw herself into bed, heart racing and eyes stinging.

Divide

Graduation had come and went and the years that followed had been strained and arduous.

Weiss had dedicated herself to studies at university and had little to no time for anything else in her life. The only enjoyment she felt was when she returned home to her shared apartment and a certain redhead greeted her with a smile and a hearty;

"Welcome home, Weiss!"

She and Ruby had remained near inseparable even now. With Ruby in college and Weiss at university, the pair had found the perfect place where both could easily commute to with Ruby driving and Weiss taking a short train ride. With both college and university having their own expectations and demands there was only so much time the two could spend together, to both their chagrin. The divide between them felt so strange considering how close they had been since they were kids.

But for the most part it worked out well enough. Weiss never really got too into videogames and Ruby wasn't much for movie-watching (unless it was action!) but they had fun nonetheless.

"Oh, hello, Weiss!"

And then there were times Weiss wished she had an apartment of her own instead.

Velvet exited the redhead's bedroom in nothing but spats shorts and a white t-shirt and her hair tousled. She propped down next to her gaming girlfriend and looped an arm around Ruby's waist as she kissed her temple. The pair had made it official after Ruby graduated and had been together since with Velvet occasionally crashing over at their place more frequently.

It was just a matter of time before she decided to move in.

Looks like another night of isolation in her room or go out to eat alone under the lie that she was meeting some friends.

Weiss had known they were dating, but she still had approached Ruby about sharing an apartment to reduce costs, but it still hurt to see this scene play out every week.

It hurt because she knew she wasn't a homophobe as certain literature, a curious investigation via the internet, and the lack of romantic or sexual interest in men had clued her in over time that she was quite the opposite; in fact she was in the same camp as Ruby.

It hurt because she was drifting apart from her best friend since childhood as the third fucking wheel.

It hurt because the walls were not thick enough to drown out noises from the other room at night.

"Have you eaten yet, Weiss? Velvet and I are going to order takeout! I was thinking we could watch a movie—"

"I have plans with friends from Uni. I just got home to get changed," she lied without missing a beat and retreated to her room, her heart sinking in her chest.

"Aw, again? But we barely get to hang out—"

The door slammed shut before Ruby could finish.

Distraction

It was the same evening Weiss had decided to visit a club on her own as one of the few options she had. Their few other friends she and Ruby had in common were either in different cities or busy and she wasn't in a mood to call Yang, or Blake. Or Winter for that matter.

It was the same evening that Weiss came to the conclusion that beer still wasn't her type of drink.

Downing it regardless, she settled on busying herself with her phone. It was cheap entertainment, but better than just sitting at the bar, drinking by herself.

…Trying not to think of her roommate and her girlfriend taking advantage of the fact that she wasn't home.

"Hey there, cutie~" a honeyed voice beckoned. Weiss glanced up to see a girl around her age – maybe younger – with long hazel hair in a uniquely curved ponytail and light grey eyes. "What are you doing here by your lonesome?"

"Not interested," she immediately replied and turned back to her phone.

"That's cold. Maybe I just wanted to talk?"

She ignored her like the frigid queen she was; a horrible habit that had developed over the years when unwanted company sought her attentions.

Before long the girl gave up with a harsh "Bitch" and left.

Weiss just rolled her eyes. As if she would lose her purity in a dingy club with a woman she didn't love.

Coming out again

Weiss was on cloud nine for once!

She had a day off from university due to a cancelled class; Ruby studied from home on occasion and was done for today, but Velvet did not!

They had a whole day together. Weiss couldn't even remember when last that had happened.

A full day of movie-watching and gaming under the blankets with takeout food and ginger ale.

Perfect.

"And I win again!" Ruby exclaimed, controller held up in the air. "Suck it!"

Weiss rolled her eyes. "You play videogames far more than me. It's no surprise."

"Hey let me enjoy this, alright? Velvet always beats me so it feels good to be winning for once!"

"Yes, yes." She shook her head and smiled. "What do I have to forfeit?"

"Your life."

She arched an eyebrow at her. "That took a turn."

Ruby stuck out her tongue and giggled. "How about you tell me why you've been so moody and distant lately then?"

I'm distant?´

"I have not been either thank you very much. University takes up a lot of my time and my friends want to hang out a lot, too."

`Which friends?´

Ruby was pouting at her. "I guess…but you just seemed so to me."

"Maybe I'm not in the best of moods when I get back home after a full day of studying," Weiss lied. "Besides we're not kids anymore. We can't spend all day every day hanging out like we used to."

The redhead whined and slumped in her seat as she went through game menus and selected a new character. "I suppose so. I've just missed hanging out with you."

´I couldn't tell seeing how you and Velvet are enjoying yourselves.´

"Likewise…But at least we have today."

That seemed to cheer her up. "Yeah! So, how about a bet?"

"Huh?"

"Loser has to treat the other to dinner."

Weiss snickered. "You're just saying that because I'm bad at fighting games."

"How about we change the game then? You're pretty good with rhythm!"

She cocked a lopsided smirk. "Challenge accepted."

Ruby got up and changed games, but Weiss's smile faded. She had missed this and should be happy and she was, but it was temporary at best.

Tomorrow it was back to university and coming back home to see those two all cuddled up on the couch again.

She sighed.

"You okay, Weiss?"

"Hm?"

"That was a heavy sigh just now. Are you sure there's nothing on your mind?" Ruby inquired. "You can tell me anything you know?"

"…Mm."

The redhead propped down next to her, controller in hand as the T.V screen lit up with a myriad of colours and menus as Ruby adjusted the settings and how many players—

"I'm gay."

The controller nearly fell out of her grip.

Silver eyes widened and stared right back at Weiss. "You're…You're gay?"

"Mhm."

"How long have you known?"

"For a while. Around graduation I think." She shrugged. "I never really acted upon it though. Studies came first."

`Studies was all I could distract myself with from you two.´

"Oh wow…" Ruby looked away from a second and covered her mouth.

"Sorry?"

"It's nothing," the redhead quickly said dismissively. "Just… wow! Welcome to the other team, Weiss!"

She hugged her and the snow-haired girl awkwardly returned the embrace. "Uh…Yeah. Thanks."

Awkward though it was, the hug made her the happiest she had been in a long time.

If only they could remain like this forever.

Doubt

The weeks that followed since that day had been…difficult to handle.

The shift between them was staggering.

First of all, Ruby seemed to avoid her.

There hadn't been any difference the day after; Ruby and Velvet were sitting on the couch, playing videogames as per usual and Weiss had isolated herself in her room.

From that point on however, that's when Ruby had started to act different around her and it was damn near heart-breaking; she behaved like she was frightened and treaded gingerly around Weiss, or just downright ignored her at times to the point that she sometimes slept over at Velvet's place under the pretense that they were going to the same college. Curious that had never happened before and now all of a sudden—

Weiss sighed. It had started out as minor things at first, like Ruby excusing herself whenever they entered the kitchen together or stayed too close. As if that had been a problem before.

Was the redhead conscious of her now that she was gay too? Was she afraid that something would happen?

It wasn't until a full month had passed and when Ruby refused to give her any answer upon asking and claiming everything was fine, Weiss had had it.

It was time to move out. Unrequited feelings were a burden and a distraction and she would be doing them both a favour by finally going separate ways; Ruby and Velvet could move in together and Weiss could find a place closer to Uni and maybe finally move on.

She'd miss the dolt, but this was insufferable. Maybe she should've talked to the cute girl at the club that time…

Another two weeks came and went and unlike talking to Ruby, the apartment-hunting had yielded some results; she had been visiting a couple of apartments that were on the cheaper side, but then she didn't need any excess space, and they were closer to Uni. They'd shave off a good amount of travel-costs for a cheap ten-minute bus ride.

Weiss was determined to look a bit longer, but she was happy that she was making process.

A talk…?

"You're planning on moving out…?"

"Yeah…" Weiss squared her shoulders and crossed her arms. She had been caught at the doorway. "Been thinking about it for a little while now. Living closer to Uni would be great and it's getting crowded what with Velvet practically living here nowadays. Besides, she's your girlfriend and she lives closer to college so you would be doing yourself a favour by moving in with her."

"But…" Ruby averted her gaze and shifted her weight from one foot to another. "I thought we looked for an apartment together because…" Her bottom lip was trembling. "Did…Did I do something?"

Yes. No. Maybe.

She sighed. "It's just that I've been thinking that we would both benefit from this. You and Velvet should have your own place and I could benefit from living closer—"

"You didn't answer my question."

Weiss started, but quickly recovered. "Ruby—"

"I didn't need this right now," the redhead interrupted. Her silver eyes were watery and the vulnerability in her body-language and voice was enough to make Weiss panic. "I don't need this right now. I thought we were friends."

"That hasn't changed as far as I'm concerned, but friends usually don't ignore each other. Like you have."

`Look who's talking.´

"I…" Weiss' heart shattered from how weak Ruby's voice came out. "Fine. Have fun looking for a new place."

Before she could get the words out Ruby stormed off to her room and slammed the door.

Weiss let out another sigh.

So much for `never fight again.´

Disclosure

The next two days were heart-wrenching. Ruby had gone up earlier just so she could avoid Weiss in the morning and made a beeline for her room when she got back home. Any attempts to talk to her had been fruitless.

This wasn't good. She couldn't part ways with Ruby like this; it wasn't as if she wanted to break off contact with her!

She would make it up to her tonight. Velvet or no Velvet, Weiss would spend the entire night and weekend with Ruby and that was that, with cookies, ice-cream, ginger-ale, and pizza – all of Ruby's favourite kinds – and they would watch a movie, maybe play some videogames like the new fighting game the redhead had been raving about last month.

And they would talk it out. This…whatever the hell was going on, would come to an end.

And then Weiss would eventually move out and everything would be fine.

She produced the key from her pocket after a bit of effort balancing boxes and plastic bags and made it inside.

"Hey, Ruby!" She called out as she ventured to the kitchen. "Look, I know things between us have been awkward lately, so I got us pizza and ice-cream and…Ruby?"

The T.V was on and…was that sobbing?

Weiss' heart throbbed painfully and she bolted out of the kitchen into the living-room. "Ruby?!"

The redhead was curled up on the couch in one of her duvets, cheeks puffy and eyes reddened. Dark bags had formed underneath those once brilliant silver pools and her hair was an absolute mess.

"Weiss…?"

A chill went down her spine. "Ruby, what happened?!" She dashed over to her side. "Are you alright?!"

"I…" She sighed and sniffled. "I broke up with Velvet."

The world seemed to come to a screeching, sudden halt.

"Oh."

What else was there to say?

"I'm…sorry to hear that. What happened? I mean, everyone agrees that you were quite a match."

`Not that I ever agreed.´

"There were…complications," Ruby replied with a heavy sigh. "She didn't like you for starters."

"Excuse me?"

"She thought that we were joined by the hip and I had to remind her repeatedly that we were just best friends. When I told her that you came out as gay she almost freaked out and wanted me to move in with her even though she already has a roommate. We had a bit of a fight when you said you were planning on moving out, actually." Ruby shook her head. "And then there was…Never mind."

She was not prepared for that bomb to drop. Now she didn't have to feel bad about secretly hating the brunette's guts though.

"Is that why you were crying all by yourself? Did you even attend any classes today?"

"I called in sick today."

"I see…" Weiss drummed her fingers over her thighs. "Well…luckily I have just the stuff for a breakup. Have you eaten yet?"

There was a small smile curling the redhead's lips. "Nope, but…shouldn't you be out looking for a new apartment?"

"You honestly think I'm going to move out now? You need me more than ever," Weiss said with a scoff. "You can be such a dolt sometimes. I'm not abandoning you."

"But you said—"

"Forget what I said! I'm here." She gently squeezed Ruby's shoulder and smiled. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

That evening had been the like blast from the past; the two of them together, laughing and talking about anything and everything while watching a myriad of movies and playing videogames.

Just the two of them.

"Hey, Ruby?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For wanting to move out – for wanting to leave you. It was selfish."

"Selfish?" Ruby put down her ginger-ale can. "You wanted to give me and Velvet space and find a place closer to Uni. That's not selfish."

"If you knew why then you'd understand."

"But…I know why. You wanted to give us space—"

"I just wanted to get away from here."

She hadn't meant to let that slip.

The seconds of silence felt like an eternity. Ruby didn't comment, but her expression said it all.

Weiss let out a long sigh. "…Do you remember back when we were kids and you were upset that I was popular?"

"Yeah…I remember feeling so mad about it…and that made you upset…"

"Yes, well, this time it was the other way around. You being with Velvet bothered me, alright?" She crossed her arms over her chest. The cat was coming out of the bag like a bat out of hell. "Back at your birthday party before we graduated when you were so close to her, it bothered me a lot and at the time I was afraid I actually was homophobic – against my own best friend! But that wasn't it."

She paused, trying to collect her thoughts. "I had my own self-discovery some time later and it dawned on me then that it wasn't just about being gay – it was about that me being in love with you."

A gasp escaped the redhead's lips. "You're…in love with me?"

Weiss hung her head. "…Yes. I wasn't planning on telling you that I was gay, but…it slipped out. I wanted to confide in you just as you did. You and Velvet were a thing when I came to the conclusion and I silently endured it because…above all else I didn't want to lose my best friend."

"Weiss…"

"That's why I'm selfish. I want you for myself. I hated the fact that Velvet was the one cuddling up to you. I hated being the third wheel all the time. I hated having walls that didn't block out the noises you made during sex and yes I heard everything!"

She just registered that her eyes were welling up and she scoffed as she tried to stifle the near-uncontrollable trembling. "Well? Anything you want to say?"

"Yeah…I really wished you had confided in me a lot sooner."

"…Why?" She spat back, almost offended for some reason. Her emotions were getting out of control.

"Because I've always been in love with you, you know."

She jerked her head back towards Ruby as her heart threatened to leap out of her chest. "W-What? But you and Velvet—"

"The thing is, Weiss, I've been in love with you as soon as I figured out that I was gay," Ruby explained. "Once I did, I knew why I was so attached to you; it wasn't just about our friendship. I was afraid some boy would one day come in and sweep you off your feet, but…" She took a moment and just breathed. Collect her thoughts. Weiss was thankfully not pushing her. "It took all my courage to even come out to you as gay, but just because you accepted me for that didn't mean that you swung the same way. I value our friendship more than anything else and the thought of ruining that by trying to confess to you was...well, no amount of courage could help me there."

Weiss gawked at her.

"In the end I resigned myself to not act on my feelings. Velvet and I hit it off and one thing led to another. Not that she was a substitute or anything, but she allowed me to move on. Or so I thought at least." Silver eyes shyly met pale-blue ones. "I still love you, Weiss Schnee. I always have."

Her heart was thundering beneath her breast. "I love you…" she whispered. "I love you. I love you." Her hands were quivering. "I love you, Ruby Rose."

To finally be able to say it was a feeling she would never be able put into words.

Ruby lifted the duvet. She was wearing her pyjamas underneath. "Wanna cuddle?"

"I would love nothing more."

The second the duvet covered them both they gingerly pressed up against each other with a shudder. It felt nostalgic.

And that was enough.

They had all the time in the world to make up for what was long-overdue.

Fin

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