Long distance [RWBY, Whiterose]

Chapter 14: Mask

Weiss walked into the room seeing Ruby already seated next to whom she assumed to be Penny. She was bold which Weiss was expecting and attached to an IV along with a heart monitor. An uneaten food try sat in front of her. She looked so fatigue, weak and pale. Tired.

Weiss stood behind Ruby watching the interaction take place. Penny looked up to her when she noticed her presence.

"Weiss?" Penny asked stopping Ruby in the middle of her talking.

Ruby looked up at Weiss with a raised eyebrow. She didn't know they knew each other.

"Sorry?" Weiss asked.

"I know you! Not from the television or anything, but you knew Ironwood right? He introduced us years ago!" Penny exclaimed.

Weiss looked down in thought. She would remember her if she knew Ironwood but nothing came to mind, "I'm sorry, but I don't remember you. He didn't really... Talk about you."

"Not surprised." Penny chuckled.

Weiss sat down when Ruby pulled a chair for her to sit beside her.

"Are you feeling okay?" Ruby asked Penny, her hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah. Chemo is definitely beating my butt, but I'm not going to give up." Penny sighed.

"Y-you should eat some more for strength." Ruby said.

"Hospital sucks though." Penny stuck her tongue out.

"Only because it's actually excessively process." Weiss added.

"They don't even make Orange Juice right." Penny whispered.

Ruby looked at Weiss. "Do you make Orange Juice correctly?"

"It's- Ruby." Weiss sighed.

Penny looked at the two questionable. She felt like she missed something.

"Weiss owns a hospital!" Ruby told Penny excitedly. "It's for both human and Faunus's too!"

Weiss facepalmed and sighed. She didn't regret helping that man but definitely regret saying she owns a hospital in front of Ruby.

"That sounds so cool." Penny said astonished.

"Yes... Well it's not all about me at the moment." Weiss bit the inside of her cheek.

"It gets my mind off of... Well..." Penny gestured to the whole room. "Tell me how you two met."

"Oh- it started off with Yang forcing me to download a dating app and well. Weiss, I guess decided to message me and here we are." Ruby shrugged.

"Same with everything but I wasn't forced and only because my gut told me not to swipe left." Weiss sighed crossing her legs.

"That sounds so cute." Penny smiled.

Weiss eyes widened at her words, Ruby on the other hand only chuckled with a blush.

"Define cute." Weiss remarked.

They went on this for hours, talking about their lives and how Penny was feeling. Weiss noticed how calm Ruby was about the whole ordeal. She should be crying or show emotions but all she's been doing is smiling, laughing, and doing anything but relax herself.

They eventually had to leave the hospital because visiting hours were over, and they said their respective goodbyes. Ruby and Weiss didn't say a single word as they rode the elevator down. Ruby was spacing out and Weiss was reminiscing on what happened.

They hopped in the car. "Where to?" The driver asked looking in the rearview mirror.

"Where are you staying again?" Weiss asked Ruby.

Ruby jumped, almost like she was surprised. "Oh- uh I actually forgot to-. I never booked anywhere." Ruby gave a nervous smile.

"It's fine." Weiss sighed tiredly. "To my house."

The driver gave a short nod, and they began their journey. Silence filled the vehicle besides a small noise from the radio. Weiss was to busy on her phone to notice Ruby's expression. She looked like a completely different person and her eyes were watery which she rapidly tried to blink away.

They pulled up and they both got out, Ruby grabbed her bags in the back of the trunk and stared in awe at the place. It was humongous.

Weiss led her in and they both entered, Weiss shut the door behind them. "This is my home." Weiss sighed gesturing to it all.

"It's so cold." Ruby said rubbing her arms.

"I haven't noticed." Weiss replied.

Weiss showed her where Ruby was staying and where Weiss was so she could find her if she needed to. She left her to be so Ruby could unpack if needed to or get herself situated.

Ruby looked around the room and didn't find much. It was empty. Ruby looked out the window watching as snow fell from the sky. She sighed and sat on the bed before sprawling out, the feeling of something heavy on her chest started to appear. It was like she could feel it inside, some object was inside her but it was weightless, imaginative. Her heart actually felt heavy for once as she laid there.

Her eyes started to water as tears started spilling. It was a silent cry, no matter what her voice did not come out as sobs were the only noise. Weiss couldn't see her like this. Her breathing was erratic mixed with sniffling. She felt terrible but so light.

She didn't want Penny to go, she didn't want to no longer see her smile. Not only that, but she noticed how different she looked even. Skinner than before, weaker looking with bags under her eyes. Ruby bit her nail to distract herself from the tears, to try and stop it which worked. Her mind was more consecrated on her teeth gliding off her nail repeatedly. She didn't want to actually bite it.

Her eyes stung but less when chlorine was in her eyes. Her eyes felt heavy but she was expecting that. She got up and headed to the bathroom. Her eyes stared at the sink before at herself. Her eyes were red and you could definitely tell she was crying. She wiped her eye with her fist.

She wasn't ready to lose someone so close to her. She was lucky enough not to remember her mother before she passed. Ruby hated that she didn't but for once she was glad, but now she might lose someone she actually will remember.

She pushed herself off the sinks counter and did her best to feel like herself. She shook her hands and stretched her body to get her mind off of the topic.

She rummaged through her luggage to find something warm to wear, after changing she no longer looked like she was crying. She forced a small smile before walking out of the room to the living room that Weiss told her she'd be at before leaving, it took her a few minutes till she found it.

Weiss sat upright on her sofa, a blanket covering her as she stared at the TV. Ruby sat beside her causing Weiss to snap her head in the direction.

"I thought you would go to sleep." Weiss murmured as she refocused on the Television.

"Nah, was just trying to find out my outfit and such." Ruby replied.