Whiterose Week 2020

A red rose laying on a broken mirror.

A timid knock came at the door, and Weiss looked away from the mirror. She quickly let her nightgown drop, not wanting whoever was there to see the new, huge scar on her abdomen. The ex-heiress took a breath and walked over, taking hold of the handle.
    It was Ruby, her partner. Weiss smiled at her, but when she didn't receive one in return she knew something was up. This was her best friend, after all. The girl, shorter than Ruby without her heels, moved out of the way to let her in. They were sharing this room anyway.
    She closed the door again, watching as Ruby sat on the bed that Weiss had claimed. That would usually be enough incentive to throw an insult the younger girl's way, but this time she bit her tongue, sitting down next to her. Ruby wouldn't look at her, no matter how much Weiss willed her to. 
    Silver eyes just stayed staring at the ground.
    
"What's wrong?" Weiss asked, genuinely concerned.

Ruby didn't answer, clenching her fists tightly. The ex-heiress hesitated for a second, not really sure what was going on. She eventually sighed, reaching over and placing a hand on her partner's.

"Speak to me, Ruby. What's going on?"

Ruby took one look in her direction, before beginning to cry. Weiss felt a pang in her chest, not really sure what to do. Her partner looked absolutely distraught, she knew the younger girl needed to offload sometimes, but this was the worst she'd ever seen. She absolutely hated it.
    After staring in disbelief for a second, she took Ruby in her arms. She cradled the girl in her arms for a few minutes, gently running her fingers through dark hair. Ruby clung onto her desperately, and only moved away when a few more sobs left her body.
     Weiss touched her friend's face once they moved apart a little, wiping away a few of the fresh tears that continued to form. Ruby's normally vibrant silver eyes were dull with grief, and she could barely look her partner in the face.

"Hey… what's the matter? Do you want to talk about it or do you just want me to carry on hugging you?" The ex-heiress said as she brushed some hair from Ruby's face.

Ruby took Weiss' hand as it fell, something that made the older girl blush a little, "Y-You… you were…"

It looked like someone had died, the expression on Ruby's face was so full of misery and distress. Weiss absent-mindedly ran her free hand along where the scar was, she could still feel the stretched and warped skin through her nightgown. She was careless and blindly prideful in her abilities, and she'd almost paid the ultimate price.
    The ex-heiress couldn't remember much of the pain she felt, only waking up to see Jaune boosting her aura, to which she would forever be grateful. The scar that had been left was an uncomfortable, yet practically painless reminder that being reckless could cost you. Weiss at least knew now that she should look out for flaming spears more often.
    How Ruby felt now, it was because of her, and the sinking feeling in her chest only grew as she watched her friend continue to cry in front of her.

"I-I couldn't… I-I didn't protect you." Ruby sobbed, now clinging onto Weiss' arms.

"That's not on you. You can't blame yourself for what happened." Weiss freed herself to cup the younger girl's face.

"Y-You died, a-and I couldn't-" Ruby closed her eyes, shaking her head.

Weiss could feel tears starting to form in her own eyes, but was desperate not to let them fall. She raised Ruby's chin gently, forcing them to make eye contact. She smiled a little, trying to be reassuring.

"I didn't die. I'm still here. You were the one who told Jaune to carry on, and you protected us both while he was helping me."

"B-But I-" Ruby's eyes widened when she felt Weiss' finger pressing firmly down on her lips.