What is Love?

Blake Belladonna read enough romance stories to last her a life time. She should definitely know what "Love" means. There's the dictionary version. There's Ruby's version. There's Yang's version. But when she looks at Weiss…well…she needs to rethink her ideal version of love with every fleeting moment.

Moment One: Starting with a Book

Blake, resident Faunus of Team RWBY, was presently sitting in her bed with a book propped on her lap. It was yet another romance novel, (that somehow everyone seems to know); but her mind doesn't seem to pick up on the words. She's pretty sure that she read the same sentence over and over again.

'I think it's the room,' She thought. 'It's too quiet in here.'

And she was right, the room was empty for a Saturday afternoon. Yang was at the gym working with Pyrrha on building endurance. Ruby was out with Coco and Velvet on how to further enhance Crescent Rose's bullets to reach near Sonic Boom level. Zwei, ('Thankfully he's out of the room.') no doubt was probably bothering Glynda by leaving paw prints in her office.

As for Weiss…

Blake pouted, she wasn't sure where Weiss went off to. She prodded Yang about where her crush in question was, but Yang not-so-nonchalantly-responded that Weiss was probably out buying more Dust at the Coal Dust Shop in support of Flynt Coal. It sated her worried mind, but it didn't sate the growing pit in her stomach.

With a huff, Blake tossed away the book, before catching it in mid-throw and muttering apologies to the cover. She should've known better to treat books with respect. Placing the book now gingerly on the bedside table, Blake got up to stretch.

"Maybe she'll be back soon."

She stood up to lean against the window, feeling her mind now unsettled with a prodding question.

'What is Love?'

It was topic that surprisingly Ruby brought up last night during their now usual Friday Movie Night. The young leader thought it'd be nice to start talking about deep questions, something that Blake admired.

But last night, Blake was honestly stumped. She didn't know how to answer it right away.

Yang, thankfully, went first, by using an obvious cop-out answer, "Love…dear sister…is indescribable."

Ruby responded naturally with a pillow to her sister's face, "Love is moments that you would share with one person for the rest of your life. Like baking cookies! No matter what!"

"That's so cute!"

"Shut up!" Another pillow to the face. "So, Weiss, what about you?"

Weiss, Blake remembered was rather pensive with her expression that night. Her eyes were shifting left and right, as if debating what would be the best answer. When she spoke up, Blake felt her heart clench slightly.

"Love isn't important. And it shouldn't be a goal that everyone strives for. Physical attraction is a plus, but what is important is making ties and furthering the Schnee line." Weiss said with a tone that was void of any emotion.

Ruby and Yang's mouth dropped. And so did Blake's heart.

But she held her breath when Weiss continued, "But it's not like that anymore…ever since…I got this." She motioned to her scar, and Yang and Ruby gave knowing looks. But judging by her posture, the Heiress didn't want to be prodded on it any longer.

"I had years to think about this, and I'd like to say that the definition has changed for me. Now, love for me, ideally is…" Blake once again felt someone holding her heart tightly, unsure whether that ghostly hand will squeeze or let go.

"Someone that sticks by you regardless of your name, standing, and history. They stand by you for you."

As every word escaped her lips, she held on to Blake's gaze. That phantom hand disappeared and a bit of warmth rushed through Blake's veins. And the Faunus was sure that she was blushing hard that night.

The sounds of blubbering and muted sobs were heard breaking the gaze between the pair. Just as Weiss was about to retract her words, she was tackled to the ground by Ruby and Yang, crushing her in a plethora of hugs and head rubs. Promises of love and friendship were secured as Weiss eventually gave up on resisting the hugs.

She relented with a smile, and muttered that the sisters were hopelessly sensitive. Blake, who didn't join in on the "dog" pile, gave Weiss a warm smile, as much as she could. Weiss in turn smiled back.

When the sisters finally pried themselves away from Weiss, Ruby, in a spur of roses, landed herself on Blake's lap, her silver eyes bearing into amber ones.

"And what about you, Blake?"

Which brings the Faunus back into present time. She didn't know how to answer that night.

In all of her readings, all the words and quotes she memorized over the years; nothing. Nothing seem to bring out her ideal version of love.

She remembered that she responded with, "Love is someone who wouldn't hurt you."

After she responded, the rest of the night was a blur of more questions, and most were silly; starting with the phrase, "You have 1 million Lien but…"

But back to the question at hand, Blake felt like her answer was right for the moment. After all, love isn't meant to hurt.

Her crush in question, Weiss Schnee… Blake knew, if anything, she didn't want to let Weiss know that her feelings are transactional. To the definition of Weiss's type of love, Blake would match it.

Laughing bitterly to herself, "That's not happening. I can't with Weiss. Not that."

"You can't with me?"

A sharp shriek escaped her lips and she turned around to see Weiss at the door way with plastic bags in hand. Chuckling softly, Weiss entered the room, setting the bags aside, before addressing Blake, "So, what was it that you can't with me?"

Blake stuttered, trying to regain some form of control, "I-was thinking that I can't really join you for Zwei's walks. You mentioned it before."

Weiss stared at her with scrutiny before relenting, "Of course not, you're still a little…Jumpy, as of late, with Zwei in general. Actually, you've been jumpy as of late. Are you sure you're alright?"

'If you listen to my heart. Of course not.'

"I'm fine, I'm just thinking about…" 'You, and what it would mean for me to fall in love with you.' "Getting some new books to read. This one I have right now, is too slow of a burn."

Weiss hummed, before turning away and towards a plastic back. Blake's ears swiveled in curiosity as Weiss was muttering to herself quietly.

Before Faunus knew it, there's a black tome being handed to her, "Here, I got this for you, this is one of my favorite author's, so I thought you might enjoy it."

Stunned, Blake nodded mutely and looked up to see Weiss about to head out the door, "Where are you going?"

"I have to go pick up Ruby and Yang so we can study, I'll be right back."

Blake pouted justly slightly, but was relieved to hear that she'd be back. "Okay, stay safe."

Weiss, as always, bristled lightly before huffing, "I'm perfectly capable, you know! And it's just picking up those two dolts!" She stalked off, before her head popped at the doorway once more, "Of course I'll be safe."

Blake sighed in relief as her ears listened to the fading footsteps down the hall. She lifted up the book that she held so firmly and brought it to her chest. It was one of the few times that Weiss bought anything for her. But it was ever rarer if it was in a form of a gift.

It made Blake smile, even enough to show a bit of her teeth; along with the red hues that tinged her cheek. Returning to her bed, she slipped into the covers and placed the book in her lap.

Opening the few pages to peek at what was in store for her, she was surprised that the story was already opening up with a dramatic background, more so than the book that she was reading previously.

Propping herself against the wall, she started to read, humming to herself as she immersed herself in the book.

But in the back of her mind, Blake knew that the warmth she felt when Weiss was in the room, was definitely something she would've read before in her books. If Blake was as confident as the character in the book, she would've said that…maybe just maybe…

Love is something she can figure out with Weiss, with every moment.

Starting with this book.

A/N: I am back! For awhile... And big thanks to my beta reader Fate-117 for helping me out. Any questions, concerns, feelings thoughts, issues, let me know in the reviews.

Fate-117: Thanks for reading, please review. I'm still taking jobs for beta-reading, so message me if you're looking for some assistance.