Chapter Text
It wasn’t uncommon for teammates to end up dating at Beacon, but it also wasn't something you saw every day. Being in close quarters for a long time, living and working together, it was bound to happen, and while Team STRQ’s relationship was not the best example of what normal team dynamics should be, they were recorded as one of the best teams to ever graduate from Beacon Academy.
Logically speaking, however, it wasn’t the smartest idea, especially if the end result was strained inter-team relations that would jeopardize the team for the next four years at Beacon and beyond. It was a terrifying enough thought that made it a much more rare instance.
Yet, that didn’t stop Blake and Ruby from falling in love with each other. Ruby was the daughter of Taiyang Xiao Long after all.
Ruby still thinks fondly of their first meeting, her girlfriend had appeared magically behind her with a book in her hand and a glare on her face very much ready to defend her. And gods had she looked so pretty while doing it, Ruby thought. After helping her out from Weiss’ tongue lashing, her mysterious hero had disappeared, leaving her daydreaming of golden eyes and raven locks. Only to meet the dark-haired beauty once again later that same day in such a twist of fate that Ruby felt herself falling deeper under her spell.
Their third meeting was so abrupt and quick that all Ruby could focus on was organizing everyone effectively to defeat the giant Nevermore. When all the teams were announced Ruby had trailed behind her team, floating on what felt like air at the fact that she was finally living her dream. She had been so absorbed in her inner squealing she didn’t register Blake’s presence until the girl had tapped on her shoulder.
“Ruby?” Blake normally looked very composed and under control of her emotions, but something about the way she was looking at her made Ruby melt into a puddle.
“Yes, Blake?” She had barely managed to suppress herself from screaming in surprise when she turned around slowly (she was a huntress in training after all).
A shy look came over Blake’s features, “I know this is really out of nowhere but... do you want to go on a date later?” Ruby opened and closed her mouth feeling her head spin. Was this actually happening? “Yes?” she croaked out.
Blake’s mouth curved up at her behavior, “Is that a question or a statement?”
“A statement,” Ruby said, much firmer than before. Both of their faces dusted red in embarrassment as they walked back to their shared dorm.
While they had both been giddy with the possibility of something more, they wouldn’t find time to sneak off from Yang and Weiss until much later in the week. Which was pushed back even more until after Weiss got over her problem with Ruby being the team leader.
For their first date, Blake had taken Ruby out to a cafe in the city. Halfway into it Blake had leaned over mid-sentence to wipe a smudge of whip cream on the corner of her mouth, making Ruby not only blush but feel all sorts of fluttery feelings in her stomach.
It took Blake a couple of seconds after to realize what she had just done, face flushing red, stammering out an apology, as she wiped her finger on a napkin. Gods, I think I'm falling in love, Ruby thought, staring at Blake as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear giving Ruby a shy look.
The rest of the date had gone so well they had a hard time not stealing glances at each other the rest of the week.
“Are we... dating?” Ruby asked one day, biting her lip, unable to meet Blake’s eyes. They were alone in the dorm at the moment, both perched on top of Blake's bed reading their respective books while they waited for the other half of their team to come back. Blake licked her lips equally as nervous, “I’d like to be if that’s what you’re asking.” Ruby’s smile was all teeth, reaching out to mesh their hands together and kiss her new girlfriend’s knuckles.
(Which she promptly dropped and bolted to her bed when she heard the door unlock)
Finding out Blake was a Faunus was not as shocking as Ruby would admit (she did like tuna a lot after all). But hearing Weiss make remarks about her secret girlfriend’s heritage was difficult, being unable to defend Blake as her lover was even harder to brush aside. Blake… was so loving and kind she couldn’t be a radical terrorist... right?
Ruby didn't dwell on it too long, choosing instead to trust her girlfriend and just focus on finding her and pray to the Gods that she was okay.
Which she was, thankfully, in the end.
Feeling relieved that Blake was alive and well, she felt herself mellow down at the inner team tensions once Weiss and Blake were able to bury the hatchet and move on, choosing to accept both sides of the war they were in. And while Ruby had pulled Blake aside to tell her right after that she was okay with everything, Blake kept throwing guilty glances at Ruby on the way back to the dorm.
Later that night, around midnight, Blake jumped onto Ruby’s bed, ears pressed into her hair apologizing for not coming clean earlier. Ruby just smiled, held her close, and whispered into her ear that she didn't care if she wasn't human and it didn't matter that she had been in the White Fang. What mattered was that she was here making things better and with them. Blake's shoulders had sagged in relief as small quiet sobs left her mouth, and it had hurt Ruby’s heart so much that she had tilted Blake's face to wipe her tears away and kiss her so softly that Blake had purred into it.
A little after their third month anniversary, they decided to come clean to the rest of their team. Under the ruse of a team meeting, the couple had revealed their secret relationship, which had gone pretty close to what they had thought it would go.
"What is so important that you had to pull me out of my studying session?" Weiss scowled from her bed. "Whatever it is, let's hurry this up. I got a date with my bed and I don't want to miss it." Yang groaned, rubbing her face from her desk. Her long legs wrapped around the back of the chair as she rested her chin on it, eyes closing for a second before jolting back awake.
Ruby laughed nervously gathering her courage for what she was about to reveal. "Yes! Ah... I called this meeting because well... I kind of have a secret I've been keeping from both of you-"
Yang popped up fully awake.
"Secret?" Ruby gulped at her sisters tone, her face pale, hesitating to continue.
Yang turned to Weiss who looked up from her textbook with an eyebrow raised.
“Can I help you?”
Yang got up from her chair, making her way towards the heiress, "Why were you two keeping a secret from me? Are you two-" Weiss put her hand up, "Please do not finish that sentence, Yang Xiao Long. I would never lower myself to dating a child." Blake shifted uncomfortably from her part of the room, ears twitching nervously as Ruby shot her a look. "So what? Are you saying Ruby isn't cute enough?" By this point, Yang had crossed the room, face extremely close to the heiress who simply scoffed in her face. "No you brute, I'm saying I wouldn't date someone younger than me-"
"I'm dating Ruby!"
Slowly, everyone in the room turned to stare at Blake who immediately slapped her hand to her mouth in horror, ears pinned down her head.
"Care to repeat that, partner?" Yang said, lowly. The look she had given Blake made her heart drop, blood-red eyes making it very clear she was angry.
Glancing at Ruby who still hasn't seemed to get herself together she decided she had to face this challenge head on, even if her instincts were telling her to run. Blake decidedly refused to back down and met her gaze. “I’m dating Ruby,” she repeated.
"You!- Are you taking advantage of my baby sister!?" Yang took slow but deliberate steps towards her partner, her aura flaring and swelling around her. The closer she got made the Faunus reel back in fear and couldn't find the words as she opened and closed her mouth at the sight. Before Yang could get any closer Ruby threw herself between them, hands out in front of her, her eyes pleading up at her sister.
"Please, Yang! Let us explain!"
Yang didn't listen, too consumed by her anger, and felt Ruby's hands strain against her stomach to push her back. Finally having seen enough Weiss shot out of her bed.
"Yang stop you're scaring Blake!" Weiss shouted, yanking Yang's shoulder.
The brawler froze, suddenly realizing just how frightened Blake was. The fire inside her extinguished, her eyes fading lilac as she took a step back in horror. Sensing the lack of tension from her sister, Ruby dropped her hands and turned around to attend to Blake.
"Blakey? Are you okay?" Yang and Weiss watched Blake curl up into Ruby immediately, noticing how easy they fell together.
Ignoring their audience, Ruby ran her hands through Blake's hair soothingly. "Yes, Ruby. I just got a bit uh..." Blake made eye contact with Yang and immediately flinched, "scared."
Yang felt her stomach twist, "Blake- I'm sorry... I-"
She took a step towards them but felt Weiss’ hand on her bicep stop her. The look the heiress gave her made her realize she had messed up big time.
"Stop, Yang," Ruby said, turning around to glare at her. Blake brought her hand up to Ruby's shoulder shaking her head, "No it's fine, Ruby. I'm fine."
Ruby looked like she wanted to argue but kept quiet, refusing to look at her sister.
"Look, let's calm down,” Weiss said, positioning herself so she was slightly between both sisters. Yang opened her mouth to argue but the face Weiss made at her shut her up.
“So what if they're dating? As long as both of them perform the same as they have been and don't slip, I'm all for it." Weiss reasoned, hands on her hips as she stared up at Yang intensely.
Yang looked torn as she stared at her partner and sister. "Look... I overreacted but," she rubbed her head, "I can't stop you two from being together. I mean, if you two decided to come clean about it I'm sure it's gotten serious, right?"
Her sister still didn't turn to look at her but Blake nodded for her. "It is. I care about Ruby, a lot."
Yang looked at Ruby, "Sis?"
Ruby tilted her head slightly in her direction. "I do too," she whispered softly.
Yang gave her a weak smile, "Then that's that."
Strict rules were implemented by Yang immediately.
- Do not kiss in the dorms
- Hand holding is acceptable
- Cuddling was fine but keep it to a minimum if Yang is present
- No adult activities until Ruby turned 18
Blake and Ruby were compliant with the rules, though the couple had flushed in embarrassment at the last rule and Weiss had wrinkled her nose at Blake.
“As the oldest in the group, you better keep it in your pants, Blake. If you touch Ruby-like that, I will kill you before Yang does.”
“I’m 17!” Blake had groaned, hiding her face in her hands, letting Ruby pat her on the back.
It took Yang a couple of weeks to get used to them being a couple and stop glaring at Blake every time she kissed Ruby in front of her.
Ruby didn’t enjoy the ‘trial period’ Yang had given them but the benefits of coming out as a couple more than made up for it. She enjoyed being able to hold onto Blake’s arm as they walked around the school, loved exchanging kisses between classes, just downright happy being able to show her affection in public.
Her favorite thing to do was fall asleep in Blake’s arms when Yang and Weiss left the dorm. Sure she was woken up with a pillow to the head more often than not but still! She got to show how much she loved Blake every day! Nothing beats that.