Weiss walked slowly through the concrete and glass maze that was Atlas' Academy, Alsius. Her lessons were finished for the day and she had nowhere else to be, so why hurry? If she was honest, she hated the vast expanse of grey that surrounded her - she much preferred the green campus that Beacon had. Beacon. The thought of her former school still sent pangs of grief shooting through her. So much had been lost, and Weiss had lost the life that she had fought so hard to create for herself. She was, however, aware of how lucky she had been to be allowed to continue her studies. Her father had always drilled that "Schnees never quit". And he had already invested Weiss into Huntsman training. The last thing he wanted was to explain why his daughter had not completed her training. It could imply that she wasn't capable enough to continue, and he couldn't have that. If she completed her training, whilst being a well-known victim of the fall of Beacon, it would reflect well upon the Schnee name. Not to mention he wanted to keep her close – the fall of Beacon giving him as good an excuse as he needed to ensure that. It also helped that General Ironwood and her father often worked together and so she had no issue getting back into this school.

And so Weiss' father had paid for her to finish her training at Atlas Academy. As it was so late in the year to join, Weiss forwent a team for private tutelage. It was lonely and Weiss made no effort to try and make new friends (her name already marked her out as a pariah), but she preferred it this way. She knew a few people, Flint and Neon being in the small handful of people that she occasionally spoke to. But she was still part of Team RWBY and the thought of joining a new team struck such a harsh chord of betrayal through her that it threatened to overwhelm her.

Weiss hadn't heard from any of her former teammates since the fall of Beacon. What with the Vale CCT network being down, it wasn't easy to contact anyone in or around Vale. She didn't know how Yang was doing after her… injury. She didn't know where Blake was, or what she was doing. She hadn't heard from Ruby… the bright flash of that strange silver-white light flashed behind Weiss' eyes and Ruby's pained scream echoed in her mind. That was the last time she had seen Ruby conscious. Qrow had brought her small, limp body down from the top of the tower and for a horrible moment, Weiss thought that Ruby was dead. The relief had overwhelmed her when Qrow told her that Ruby was still alive and the heiress' legs had given out. It had taken weeks before Weiss felt anywhere near able to accept what had happened that day.

Everyone had lost so much that day. None more so than Pyrrha. Pyrrha had given her life in her final attempt to save the school from falling to Cinder. Weiss didn't doubt that the remainder of Team JNPR felt the loss heavily, but Weiss had looked up to Pyrrha so much that she felt the loss of not just a friend but her role model. The loss of one of the few people who inspired her to become a huntress and use her skills to fight for what was right.

Try as hard as she might, Weiss couldn't help but think of that day. Sometimes she would dream that she was back at Beacon and nothing had ever happened. Those were always the worst kind of dream. The kind where, for a moment, she felt safe again. Weiss missed her life at Beacon so much more than she could ever express. She missed her team, her friends, the people who had seen past her name, the people who had seen her and accepted her, flaws and all. She missed it all. Dust, she even missed Professor Port's classes.

Weiss had never been a fan of how Atlas was run. She understood that it was the militant capital, but she didn't think that that should be imposed upon the school, or rather, the school and the military should be synonymous. In fact, since the fall of Beacon and the attack on Vale, Atlas had kept its military very much within its own kingdom. Sure they sent Atlesian Knights to protect the citizens of other kingdoms, but Atlas kept their human soldiers within their own borders for now, preparing for an attack that seem increasingly inevitable with each passing day.

But with the withholding of soldiers, that meant that Winter was kept in Atlas too. Whilst she and Weiss had a more formal relationship than most siblings, Winter was one of the few people who understood the stresses of living at home, and she became a vital outlet for Weiss. Being back under her father's control, especially after having been accustomed to looking after herself at Beacon, Weiss felt trapped. And Winter being there for her had been a saving grace for the younger of the sisters. Not to mention that it had brought them closer together. Weiss was sure, however, that Winter was keeping a close eye on her. Winter had some idea of how the fall of Beacon had affected Weiss. But Winter had never gotten along with the youngest of the Schnee children, Whitley. And so Winter often forwent staying at the Schnee manor, avoiding clashes with both her father and her brother.

There was so much that Weiss missed, and her partner was definitely up there with what she missed the most. The fact that Ruby had never given up on Weiss, even when the heiress had given her more than enough reason to, had shown Weiss her first kindness at Beacon. Ruby's desire to see the best in everyone, and bring it out in them actually made Weiss want to strive to be a better person. And there was so much more to Ruby than just that. Her hyperactive naivety had grated on Weiss at first but she had grown to love it as it was just so Ruby. It wasn't that Ruby was ignorant to what was going on, as Weiss had first thought, but it was that Ruby chose to still see the good in the world, little as it was.

Weiss hadn't realised how accustomed to her partner she had grown until they had been separated. She missed the subtle scent of roses that always accompanied the younger girl, she missed how well they fought together – Weiss' recent efforts of fighting by herself had really highlighted how well they worked together and how smart and effective Ruby's attacks were. And they didn't just fight well together, the fit together well in all aspects. Weiss had learnt to admit that she could be a bit… proper… and Ruby was the complete counter of that, even though she tried to act appropriately when necessary.

She was so caught up in her own thoughts that Weiss didn't register the blur of red in her peripherals until it was too late and something, or someone, had bodily tackled her, arms and legs wrapped around her as a high pitched squealing assaulted her ears. Weiss' first reaction was to reach for Myrtenaster – her training and what had happened at Beacon had left her constantly on edge - but then she registered that the high pitch in her head was actually coming from the body that was holding her. And it was a pitch that she only knew too well.

Forcibly pushing the body away from her own, Weiss was met with the distinctive silver eyes that she would never, for the rest of her life, forget. Eyes that she had lost hope of ever seeing again. Eyes that were shining with life.

"Ruby?" Weiss breathed softly, not daring to believe that her partner was here. It had to be some sort of beautiful, yet sick and twisted dream.

Silver eyes crinkled affectionately as Ruby smiled tenderly at Weiss. A lump formed in Weiss' throat as she blinked back the tears. She wasn't used to open displays of affection but she couldn't believe that Ruby, her Ruby, was there. A warm, calloused hand cupped her jaw and a thumb wiped gently under her eye, brushing the tears away. Worry crept into her features as she did so.

"Weiss? What's wrong? I didn't hurt you did I?" Ruby's eyes started darting around Weiss' body, making sure that she hadn't hurt the other girl.

Weiss laughed, dissipating any tension that had been within her. "No you dolt!" she lightly pushed at Ruby who grinned when Weiss laughed. "I just can't believe that you're actually here."

Weiss truly looked at Ruby. The younger girl had grown up, physically at least, and now stood at an equal height with Weiss, who was less than thrilled at the change. Her hair was longer now too, brushing her shoulders. Weiss wondered if Ruby had been travelling if the state of her cloak was anything to go by. Weiss knew that Ruby's cloak was near-sacred to her, but here she was, with her cloak tattered and torn and filthy. Clearly she hadn't just come to Atlas – she must have been travelling for a while before she got here. Her less-than-pristine state stood out in the immaculate Atlasian lifestyle and was already drawing attention to them both.

The biggest change, though, were Ruby's eyes. They seemed older, harder, as if Ruby had seen things that she shouldn't have. Things that had effected Ruby more than she might have been willing to admit to. But then, she had seen things at the top of Beacon Tower that night that Weiss couldn't even begin to imagine.

"You look better in the Beacon uniform." And apparently Weiss wasn't the only one who had been observing the changes that had happened since Beacon. Weiss cocked her head, trying not to think of the implications of what the younger girl had just said. And apparently Ruby realised that her words could have another meaning too as a light blush coated her face. "Not that you look bad…"

With a gentle push, Weiss said, "Dunce" and she turned her head so that Ruby couldn't see the smile that graced her features. But Weiss had so many questions that she didn't know where to begin and she saw the curious glances that passers-by kept directing their way. No. She couldn't ask here. Not so out in the open. It was too exposed. Too likely for this to relay back to her father. "Come on. We can't talk here." She made to grab Ruby's hand but the younger girl pulled away, fidgeting, suddenly seeming like she had somewhere else to be. Somewhere more important to be. "When was the last time you ate, Ruby?" She asked gently. "We can talk properly over food. It's not safe to do so here."

Ruby's hesitation was written clearly on her face, but when Weiss had mentioned food, the younger girl's hand had unconsciously gone to her stomach. Weiss frowned. Just where had Ruby been all this time?

"Well, I guess I should eat something…" Ruby mumbled, more to herself than to Weiss, as if she were trying to convince herself to go with the heiress. Looking up, there was still hesitation in her eyes, but her voice was resolute. "Alright. Lead the way."

When Weiss had taken Ruby into what must have been the fanciest café that Ruby had ever seen, Ruby knew that she had made a mistake.

"Weiss, there's no way I can afford-"

"Oh shush." Weiss quieted the younger girl, turning on her. "I haven't seen you in months, Ruby Rose. And now that I have, you're all tattered and torn, looking like you haven't had a decent meal in weeks." She exhaled deeply through her nose and in a softer voice added, "It's my treat." After all, she was back in her father's good books, and that meant that she had access to his money. She had no issue spending it on Ruby.

Ruby frowned, not really wanting to take charity, but it was Weiss. Her partner and BFF. And what Weiss had said was true. They had been apart for far too long and Ruby wasn't oblivious to the deep-seated sadness within her eyes. Even now, Weiss was putting on a brave face and Ruby wasn't sure why. What was stopping Weiss from being the person that she had fought so hard to become at Beacon? To be herself.

Whilst she was wary of how little time she actually had and how she had to explain to Weiss what had happened with Yang, and how she wanted to take Weiss away with her and then try and find Blake, wherever she was, and then try and find her sister. If Qrow was worried about Yang being with her mother, then Ruby knew that it was a lot worse than she could imagine.

Weiss had been watching Ruby as she had spiralled into her own thoughts. That look was back in her eyes, the one where she looked like she had to be somewhere else, desperately.

Weiss looked to the waitress. "One black coffee, and one hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and marshmallows. Oh, and two of your cookies please." She smiled as the waitress nodded and gestured for them to sit anywhere.

Ruby had shaken herself free of her thoughts when she heard Weiss ordering and followed the heiress to a table in the window. Sitting opposite one another, both girls were suddenly confronted with a tense awkwardness – neither of them knowing where to start.

No, this was ridiculous, thought Ruby, this is Weiss. There's no need to feel like this.

"So… how have you been?" Ruby asked, wringing her hands together. She didn't miss Weiss' hard flinch as both girls were suddenly assaulted with memories of that night. Of the night that Beacon fell. "Ok, bad question. But it is good to see you again though." Weiss relaxed as Ruby carefully drew the conversation away from bad memories.

And whilst Weiss was actually thrilled to see Ruby again, she knew the girl well enough to know that there was a reason behind her being there, especially when Atlas was on the brink of closing its borders. It must have taken a great deal of effort for Ruby to have been able to get into Atlas, let alone Alsius.

"It's good to see you too, Ruby." She paused as the waitress set down their drinks and cookies. She sighed once the waitress walked away, earning her a concerned glance from Ruby.

"I guess you have questions," Ruby said, grabbing a cookie and shoving half of it in her mouth, making Weiss cringe, but then smile. It was good to see that not all of Ruby had grown up. But she had been quiet a moment too long and Ruby looked up at her. "Do you have ques-"

"Of course I have questions." Weiss snapped, suddenly being reminded of being back at Beacon. It had come to her so naturally to respond like that, and Ruby seemed to relax more at it too. But her tension slipped away as quickly as it had come. Of course she had questions. Like where had Ruby been all this time? Was she alright? Had she heard from Blake and Yang? Were they alright? But there was one question that caused her to feel increasing unease. "Ruby, why are you here?"

Ruby opened her mouth to counter that she could come and visit her partner whenever she felt like it, but she couldn't say the words. It wasn't that it wasn't true – Ruby missed Weiss more than she felt comfortable admitting out loud – it was that there was an ulterior motive behind her visit.

Weiss watched as Ruby was about to answer, but the fire died from her eyes almost instantly. Her shoulders sagged and a fear that Weiss hadn't seen before appeared in the depths of her eyes. Weiss tried to hide her own reaction to Ruby's reaction, but she couldn't stop feeling chilled at the normally hyperactive girl's response. Just what had happened?

"Ruby," Weiss waited until silver eyes met hers before continuing gently, "you can talk to me."

Ruby released a deep shuddering breath. "It- it's Yang." Weiss tried to ignore the stab of fear that had raced through her at Ruby's quiet and broken words. Weiss had been worried about Yang and how she would have dealt with the loss of her arm, and apparently with good reason too. "She's gone."

Gone? What did that mean? She couldn't have-? No. Yang was strong. She was the strongest member of Team RWBY.

"Ruby, what do you mean she's gone?"

Weiss reached across the table and gently took Ruby's hand in her own. Seeing the care and worry in Weiss' eyes gave Ruby the small amount of comfort that she needed to start telling Weiss what she knew. And once she started, she found it difficult to stop. She told Weiss of leaving Patch in search of Cinder and the reason behind why she destroyed Beacon. She told Weiss of working with JNPR and how they had formed RNJR but how Ruby struggled to work with them because they weren't her team. They weren't RWBY. Ruby wasn't oblivious to the look of hurt that had crossed Weiss' face when she had spoken about RNJR, but Ruby owed it to Weiss. She deserved to know the whole truth. Especially with what Ruby was planning to ask Weiss.

"- and the worst thing is, I think she went willingly. I shouldn't have left her. She was in a bad place. She had just lost her arm! And I left her! I shouldn't have done that. I should have been there for her. I should have –"

"Ruby Rose!" Weiss' harsh tone cut through Ruby's distressed rambling. Weiss had watched Ruby get more and more upset as she spoke, and the truth was, she was upset too. She was upset that Ruby had joined with another team so soon after losing her own. But she had come back. "Stop blaming yourself. It won't get you anywhere. What happened to Yang was… unimaginable. But Yang is strong. She's by far the strongest of Team RWBY. And she's smart. She would learn to use everything that happened to her to her advantage. Because if there's one thing that I know, it's that Yang Xiao Long does not give up."

Whilst Ruby felt mildly comforted by Weiss' words, she still wasn't convinced, and Weiss could see that.

"So what are you going to do?" she asked the younger girl. "You always have a plan."

Ruby frowned slightly. She did have a plan that was true, but how could she ask Weiss to leave this new life that she had built for herself in Atlas?

"Weiss?" the heiress raised an eyebrow, indicating for Ruby to continue. "What's Alsius like?"

Weiss' jaw clenched and her eyes strayed from Ruby's. She hadn't been expecting Ruby to ask her that, of all things. She was more than happy to hear how Ruby had been doing because it helped her forget her situation. But even more, she didn't want to admit, to Ruby or anyone, what life for her in Atlas was really like. How she couldn't be herself here. How she was nothing more than another trophy for her father to parade about.

Ruby, on the other hand, knew Weiss well enough to read her reaction. She knew that Weiss was not on the best terms with her father in particular and her sister had seemed cold and distant, which had been strange to Ruby at first when she was used to Yang being the complete opposite. She had no idea that Weiss' life at home was that bad. She hated that she had left Weiss here for so long too. She now understood the sadness in her eyes. Why she was putting on this façade. Ruby felt like she was failing everybody. She had only thought of revenge without thinking of the long term effects. But no more. With her team, she could only be the best her. It was like what Ozpin had said to her all that time ago, she couldn't think about herself, she had to think about her team. Put them first.

"You asked if I had a plan," she said gently, saving Weiss from answering the question she had asked. She waited for Weiss to meet her gaze before continuing. "I do. I'm reforming our team, Team RWBY."

Aaand the entirety of Volume 4 has come out since I last updated this. There are no excuses so I'm just going to quietly push this towards you.
Thanks for reading and as always, let me know what you thought and come and find me on tumblr warrioroftheice