Author's Note: It's been almost a year since the last update. I can't apologise enough for that, but I'm not letting this series die yet. I find it rather difficult to actually write this story so please bear with me like you have been so far. I hope to update more frequently than once a year in the future so let's hope I can do that!

Parts of this chapter was written right after the previous chapter, so if there is some weird differences in places, that'll probably be the reason. I hope you enjoy and if you've forgotten what's been happening (which is likely), please read (or scan) the previous chapters to refresh yourselves. Thank you!

Chapter Seven: Welcome to the Breakdown

The rose was dying and it'd only been a day. Blake stared at it with her mind elsewhere. It just reminded her of the sudden disappearance of Ruby's smile. Blake rubbed her fingers across the hospital bed sheets that Ruby rested upon. No sign of waking had been given, but Blake still firmly believed that Ruby will be up and bouncing around tomorrow, if not, the next day, or the day after that.

She hadn't attended a class since Adam's visit. Ozpin decided he'd look the other way for a little while and cut her some slack, but Blake was fully aware that soon enough he'd be asking about her reappearance in class.

It was already late, approaching eight. The Faunus was prepared to face Weiss or whomever it is this time to drag her away from the pale sleeping beauty. She sighed heavily, feeling weak. Sleep had not been kind to her and neither had her own mind. Blake avoided every mirror and every person, wanting little to do with anyone else or herself.

"Blake." Weiss spoke, leaning against the door frame. "It's time." Blake nodded. Weiss was happy that she no longer refused, but that was simply because she didn't have the energy to do so. "You need some rest."

Blake didn't respond for a few seconds, rubbing her tired face. "I know what I need…" She muttered coldly. Weiss let the attitude pass, not wanting to start something while everyone, including herself, is still mourning. Surprising herself, she had managed to keep up the strong act in front of everyone, but her time alone was harsh.

"Oi…" Blake groaned. "Hit that damn button already…" Weiss had lost herself in thought since they entered the elevator. Snapping out of it, she activated the button to take them to the ground floor. The elevator ride was a repeat of the previous night, silent.

As the doors opened, the two watched as a mass of people rushed between one another trying to sort out whatever was happening. It seemed serious. Weiss took the first cautious step forward, noticing a small group of people getting wheeled inside the hospital. At a quick glance, their faces were bloody, one had a line of skin peeled from their forehead down to their top lip. Bruises littered down their exposed limbs, purple and black.

The staff shouted, trying to fight through the crowd to get the injured help. Everything was frantic, wild, unbelievable, all up until someone uttered the words, "White Fang."

Blake choked on that poisonous name, feeling ill just thinking about it. Her heart sank once she realised those people could end up like Ruby, or worse. She couldn't handle sticking around any longer. Her pace was fast, barely giving the automatic door a chance to open wide enough. Weiss hastily followed. The heiress knew Blake wasn't going to be any happier after seeing that, but once outside, it only got graver. There were more, some were on their feet, hoppling. Others were completely out of it.

"Oliver!" A cry echoed through all the other screams and murmurs of the audience and actors. Weiss squinted through the silhouettes on the lit up entrance of the hospital, locating the person behind the heart-breaking screech. It was a young woman, face riddled with small cuts, as if someone was playing a game before help arrived. Her clothing was worn and tattered, like she'd tried to run somewhere. Wire clung to her foot, stuck through in multiple places. But finally, Weiss thought about the name. Next she saw a man being wheeled out of the crowd. His feet had the same problem, but a lot severer. Blood soaked into the thin sheets on which he laid. His bottom lip was partially missing as was his shirt. Markings on his chest resembled the logo of the infamous gang of racial supremacists.

This was way worse than anything they'd done before. Beginning with protests and going to violence was one thing, but this was far worse. This was a terrorist attack.

The red flashing lights of medical vehicles was blinding as another car pulled up with two more injured. It was painful to see this much hurting in one glance.

Weiss bit her lip and looked the other way. "Come on, Blake. Let's get back to Beacon." She quickly grabbed the hand of her teammate, pulling her away.

In a fluid motion, Blake snapped her hand away from her. "I can walk by myself!" Weiss watched on as the shadow of the girl marched forward, but going nowhere. Her hands curled into fists as she followed her.

Most of their time together was just silent. Blake didn't want to speak and Weiss never knew what to say. The heiress felt heartbreak just from watching the Faunus attempt to deal with this on her own. I have to say something! I never know what is going on inside her head though… Weiss' mind pained. She tried to get a better look at the depressed teammate, but her speed was hard to beat. A certain rose would have caught up to her by now.

On the top of a generous hump of land, the pavement had become steep. Fewer buildings surrounded this area. This walkway was one of the quietest routes to Beacon if you didn't mind the steeper roads and longer walk.

The streetlights illuminated the path before them. Weiss noted the bright light bouncing off Blake's pale complexion as her steps seemed to be slowing.

"Weiss…" Blake murmured, not looking back.

Weiss' eyes shot open, not expecting Blake to initiate conversation. "Ah, yeah? What is it?"

Her movement slowed down, almost to a complete stop. "Why…" Weiss looked at her quizzically. "Why don't you seem to care about Ruby's condition? I know she annoyed you sometimes, but are you really that heartless to shrug it all off?" Blake's voice was getting louder after every word. "She's your teammate and she… She might not wake up! So why are you so carefree?" Streams of tears rushed down Blake's puffy cheeks. She was screaming at this point. Weiss was dumbfounded, unable to utter a word in refute. "If it was Yang or myself in that position, I'd hate to see how you'd react! Ruby showed you nothing but kindness and laughs, but you… Do you not miss it? The smile? The giggle? The large heart?" Her breathing was rash, her throat burning. Her amber eyes locked onto Weiss' face, the surprise keeping her still. Blake turned, taking one step away from the heiress as she wiped her tears off her sore face. "I guess that cold Schnee blood does run deep."

As her feet tapped along the pavement, her heightened hearing noticed a faint sobbing behind. A sour taste still stinging her tongue, she spun on her heel to see the sorry state of the high and mighty heiress. Collapsed on the walkway, her shoulders hunched by her head and her hands furiously ripping at the falling tears. The crying became louder as Blake watched on.

The Faunus hesitated, glancing around the immediate vicinity. The stoic expression from before had crumbled away leaving a red mess. Almost in an instant Weiss had broken down behind her.

"Y-You think you're the only one… The only damn one who misses her…" It was difficult to make the words out from the sobbing heap under the beaming streetlights. "I miss her… I miss her so damn much… But…" Taking a hasty breath to keep her consciousness with her, she interrupts her own sentence. "But I can't let that show!" Saliva shoots from her whimpering lips as she keeps her train of thought rolling. "If I let that show, that'll only make things worse right?! I have to keep the straight face and normal attitude to help you and Yang, but if all I get is… Is loathing from you, is it worth the anguish I'm feeling?"

Blake continued to stare on, overwhelmed. The shoe was on the other foot.

"I fucking miss her… Yes, I miss her smile and her giggle and most definitely the large heart!" The tears didn't let up. "I may act taller than you all, but that is just me. That doesn't mean I don't love you all and it doesn't mean I won't miss any of you… And now that Ruby…" Hiccups enveloped her vocal screaming. "That Ruby… Is in this state… I've been crying every damn day, just like you!"

Reaching a hand towards the heiress, Blake took a few steps closer. "I may not be her sister or her lover, but I still care for her…" The hand softly gripped the smaller girl's side, pulling her in for a hug. The embrace was tight and warm, but Weiss couldn't stop crying, her sobbing being heard a long way away. Blake failed to stop herself from tearing up again. The two cried together on the pavement for over an hour.

"I'm sorry," was all Blake muttered through her tears.

The door creaked viciously as it opened. Flicking the light on, the room's shine burnt their eyes. Blake had helped Weiss into the room, leading her to her own bed. "T-Thank you, Blake…" Weiss spoke, her eyes already shut for the night. Without getting under the covers, Weiss dozed off.

The Faunus pulled her ribbon loose and disrobed. Looking down, thoughts flooded her of her past. The cruel workings of the White Fang and their frightening violence. Linking back to their latest work tonight, Blake couldn't stop a furious shiver from enveloping her. Her body only reminded her that she was once part of that group of terrorists. Scowling, she quickly slipped on her nightwear and rubbed her ears. The fur tickled her fingers.

Weiss… She couldn't hide her surprise and now her guilt. I didn't notice how badly you were hurting… I'm sorry… While it wasn't unreasonable for Blake to be wrapped up in Ruby's incident… Ignoring Weiss' feelings completely was unacceptable.

Ruby… Her past… Those injured tonight… They all have one relation. The White Fang. Flicking her scroll on, she scanned the news sites. Every one mentioned the attack of the violent group. Sweat dripped down her neck. Rushing into a beachside restaurant, attacking at will, stealing and destroying, there wasn't a trace of the original White Fang, the one Blake supported. Unprovoked and unnecessary. What happened to the peaceful protests?

Her scroll lit up with a notification. 1 New Message. Tapping with her middle finger, the sender was unknown.

'If you join us, this will all end.'

BANG! She threw her scroll across the room, it smashed against the wall above Weiss who still laid unconscious. "A-Adam…" Her eyes wide and breathing gone, she stared at the dent her scroll made against the wall. "Adam!" She cursed, her fright twisting into anger. "You… You will pay for what you've done to Ruby…" Standing, she stormed to the bathroom and slammed the door, locking it behind herself.

With the shower on, she disrobed once more and entered the stream of warming water. Her fist slammed into the shower wall. "You've hurt not only me, but civilians and Ruby… What the fuck do you want from me so badly?!" Her screaming was muffled by the shower, but Yang could still hear her from across the hall.

Her red eyes and sore features washed over her, sliding down the wall onto the floor. "…Ruby…"

Author's Note: Hope you liked it. Please review, favourite and follow if you feel like it. If you noticed any mistakes, don't hesitate to PM me!