What Remains ~ RWBY

Part 12

Oscars P.O.V.

By lunchtime, Coco has dragged every boy out of the house and all the way to Beacon to finish setting up the hall while Weiss and Yang get ready.

The problem is...none of us have an artistic bone in our body.

"Listen, its obvious that these are napkins, like the ones you tuck into your shirts at restaurants." Sun insists.

"Sun...those are placemats." Ren sighs.

"Yeah you dumbass," Neptune adds on, "Wait what are placemats?"

"Everyone shut up, we need to find the sound system!" Jaune yells.

"Why the fuck did they leave this job to us?" Neptune screeches.

"Language." Ren pipes.

"Alright! Listen," Jaune chuckles, "We've got about three hours until the girls get here, and I for one don't want them to yell at us for not getting anything done. So lets just pull our heads together and start small."

We all nod, attacking this job like a mission.

"Neptune, you're on music." Jaune orders, slipping easily into leader mode.

"Got it."

"Sun, you're on snacks."

"I'm your man." He grins.

"Ren, you make everything look pretty yeah?"

"I'll try my best," Ren promises.

Jaune turns to me, "Oscar, I'm giving you the most important job alright?"

My eyes widen in excitement. He throws me a bag of balloons.

"Deep breaths soldier, I want all of 'em blown up by four. Got it?"

I groan.

"Sure thing chief."

Ruby's P.O.V.

Are dresses meant to be this uncomfortable? I pull at the fabric and sigh. The corsets tighter than I'm used to, but other than that I suppose the silk is pretty itch free. I stare at the stranger in the mirror, her hair swept up in a high ponytail, cheeks rosy and pink rather than their usual sickly pale, waistline sucked in by the engraved black corset, wrapped around the flowing red silk dress like a belt.

"Oh Rubes,"

I look up to see Yang at my door. She's gorgeous, as per usual, in a glittery gold two piece dress that shows off her toned legs and stomach.

"You look beautiful," she gasps, her hand glued to her mouth. I smile.

"Yang," I laugh, cocking my eyebrow, "Are you crying?"

"Shut up," She chuckles, "Don't make me throw a pillow at you. I'll do it. I don't care how adorable you look."

We stare at each other for a while, warm smiles reflected on each of our faces. My whole life she's been there for me, every day, every minute. I'm grateful beyond words for the friends this life has given me, but she's my everything. I've taken her for granted so many times over the years. She watched me run around like a child while she was hurting, and she smiled. Because that's just the kind of person she is. She's suffered more pain than anyone I've ever met. Losing her arm, her mother, her best friend. Even the accusations from the Vital festival five years ago, distant but still following her everywhere she goes, tainting all the good shes done for this world as a huntress. She'll never be allowed a seat on the council, and her license will always be under question. But she still smiles. She still fights. I hug her tightly and although she tries to hide it, I can feel the tears drip onto my shoulder as they slip down her cheeks.

My sister's the kind of girl who's stood at the edge of hell and told the devil to fuck off. And I love her for it. Underneath all the pain, all the loss, all the uncertainty about what comes next, I know one thing. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, I want to look at the world like Yang does.

"Right, so you give me shit about crying and now you're a blubbering mess?" Yang teases, "You're gunna get snot on my dress, gross."

I pull away with a laugh, fumbling awkwardly to wipe away the tears. The midday sun streams through my window, colliding with her golden dress and hair. She looks like an angel.

A head of tight black curls pops around the corner.

"Whoa,"she gasps, her eyes widening. "Look at you two!"

Blake steps out from behind the wall, her lacey black and purple dress trailing behind her. Yang whistles dramatically at the sight of her.

"What in the hell did I do to deserve you two?" She laughs, shaking her head. I watch with tears still stinging my eyes as she holds Blake's cheek in her hand, placing a kiss firmly on her forehead.

"I ask myself the same thing everyday." Weiss smiles, stepping through the door. Her long white ponytail falls like silk over her shoulder, blending with the sequins of her winter themed dress.

"There she is," I laugh, "Looking beautiful as always."

"Mmm, not sure if the sweatpants I've worn for a week straight agree with you on that one, but thanks Rubes." The ice queen chuckles.

"A WEEK? Jesus Christ Weiss that's pathetic." Yang marvels, "I haven't washed my signature yellow tank top since I bought it. That's part of the charm." Her proud grin makes us all shiver in disgust, but this only makes her smile wider. She wraps her muscular arms around all three of us, her height allowing her to pull us all into one massive bear hug.

"Pull yourself together ladies, the boys are back. It's time to go."