30

Chapter 30

"... and then I set Raven's old house on fire on my birthday. Looked much better." Yang finished an abridged tale about how big of a mess her family was. Weiss really felt bad for giggling throughout some of the parts but she really appreciated the gesture.

Pyrrha and Ruby had also shown up at some point during the evening and ruby made sure to chime in with her own bits. Which usually ended in a short bicker between the two sisters about the details in the story.

"What about the time when you shot a-"

"Nope! Sister code! You are not allowed to speak about it!"

"Fine, then what about how you lost your vir-"

"Yang!"

"What?!" Weiss and Pyrrha stared at a red-faced Ruby with wide eyes.

After a few seconds of tense silence Yang decided to speak up, a wide smirk on her face. "Wanna give them a full story or let them come up with an explanation on their own?"

Ruby had hid under the blanket but not before giving Yang a small nod and the most angry glare she could manage. Yang only found it cute.

The rest of the team turned to Yang, waiting for the explanation and hoping it wouldn't be too bad.

"Oh calm down you two. It was an accident. Ruby was thirteen at the time and she made a gun that had gravity dust down its barrel for added propulsion. Unfortunately she miscalculated the recoil and when she fired it off it slammed into her navel and almost broke her aura. When I went to help her get up, I noticed she was bleeding but there were no visible wounds. After checking everything we found out that she managed to break her hymen! And damn, I knew she liked weapons but that was one of the funniest things that I had seen." Yang finished and fell on her back in a fit of laughter.

"That had to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard." Weiss facepalmed.

Pyrrha looked to Ruby, who was still hiding in her upper bunk. "Ruby, do you need something?" Something like that could be quite traumatic.

Ruby poked her head from under the blanket and gave Pyrrha a questioning look. "It happened years ago. Yang's a meanie for bringing it up but…" Her eyes suddenly widened and she jumped down to the floor. "I know! Yang! As a punishment you are now grounded!"

Yang wasn't fazed at all. "Sis, I'm already stuck in a small dorm. I doubt you can ground me more." She answered, not intimidated in a slightest.

To everyone's worry, Ruby only had smirked and with a wave of her hand Yang was trapped in a large red cocoon made up of petals.

"Ha!" Ruby puffed out her chest, extremely proud of her decision.

They were about to start getting ready for the night, none noticing that the room was progressively getting warmer, when the cocoon started smoking.

"Ruby, I think you didn't think this through." Weiss pointed at the object that was now covered in thick black smoke.

"What do yo-" Before Ruby could ask what she meant, the black smoke covered the entire room and flames burst out from Yang's 'prison'.

"Dammit Yang!"

"Can't-cough-breathe."

Crash

It took only a few minutes for them to get the smoke out and when they could see again, Yang was sitting on her bed with a shit-eating grin on her face. Unsurprisingly, her bedsheets didn't survive the ordeal. But that wasn't the main problem.

That would be a large hole in their window, that may have helped deal with the smoke but was now just an eyesore that was letting in cold late autumn air.

"Great work you two!" Weiss screamed at the two sisters. "Not only you had to plague my head with your asinine stories but now you had to ruin our dorm! I'm going for professor Goodwitch to help me fix this mess and you two can calm down and NOT cause anymore chaos!" She started angrily stomping towards the doors but Ruby quickly caught her forearm.

"Pleaseplease, don't go to Goodwitch! She is going to skin me alive!" Ruby wailed. She had enough of a punishment already. If she had to endure something harsher she would break! "We can solve it! Ugh… I know! We can make a thin ice sheet! It will work for the night and I'll have a new window by tomorrow!"

"Storage is already closed and I'm not using my VERY expensive dust for this." Weiss shot her down but nonetheless stopped. "And how do you even know how to fix it?"

"You think it's the first time she broke something?" Yang quipped, still sitting on her partially burned bed. "Be happy that we still have a dorm to fix." That damned smirk was definitely pissing off everybody present.

Pyrrha was just sitting on ehr upper bunk and was enjoying the evening breeze.

"Another idea!" Ruby pointed to Yang. "It's her fault, so she will be in charge of heating the room up!"

"You expect me to stay up all night just so I could keep on my semblance?"

"Out of the question." Weiss continued to nag. "I will not have my teammate falling asleep in the middle of a class!" She glared at Ruby, daring her to challenge her and allow Yang to slack off.

"Oh! I know!" Ruby dragged her own mattress down to the floor and set up a makeshift bed in the middle of the room. "Yang is warmer even without her semblance so she will sleep in the middle and we will make a pile on top!" She proudly declared with a beaming smile.

Weiss was slowly beginning to understand why her mother liked wine so much.

"I think you are all overreacting." Pyrrha decided that it was the time to calm down. "I'm sure we can sleep just fi- achoo." She loudly sneezed and slightly shivered as the temperature continued to drop. "On the other hand, I suppose this can be training for camping out in the wilds." She jumped down and took a look at the mattress that was probably too small for all of them. "How exactly are we going to fit?"

"Yang will go in the middle, I'll be on top and you will be on the sides." Ruby explained as if she had this planned in advance.

Weiss looked like her veins were about to pop. "Fine! If you want to play along with this insanity then so be it but I'll be in my bed!"

/

Her clock showed half past midnight and she was yet to get a lick of sleep. She thought that being from Atlas would make her immune to cold but apparently spending all of her life inside a manor with a very expensive heating system made her maybe a bit spoiled. Adding to that was the fact that should she move even a little bit, the precious heat would escape from under her blanket.

The three dunces were much better off. Ruby was indeed sprawled on top of Yang and was sleeping without a care in the world. Pyrrha, who for whatever reason decided to participate in the body pile, was sleeping on the very edge of the mattress, a respectable distance from Yang but still close enough to stay warm.

"Just swallow your pride and join them." Ivory was getting tired of her twin constantly whining about their teammates instead of resting.

Ugh, fine! Weiss carefully rose up from her bed, took her pillow and blanket and made her way over to Yang's side. Even without lying down she could already feel Yang heating up the space around her. She tried to set everything up quietly but despite her efforts a lilac eye had opened and was looking straight at her. She could definetly feel the smirk and some stupid condecending remark on the way.

"Not one word!" She angrily whispered. Thankfully Yang didn't want to wake everyone up and after rolling her one opened eye went back to sleep.

-BBW-

She really didn't want to get up.

She was warm, her bed was soft and she got her hands on the best pillow she had in her life.

Wait… Beacon's pillow wasn't that good.

Ivory slowly opened her eyes. Her pillow, which should have been white, was orange.

Somehow she had pushed Ruby off of Yang in her sleep and took her place. The little girl now lay between Yang and Pyrrha with the champion spooning her. If she didn't leave her scroll on the nightstand she would have taken a couple photos.

Ivory carefully craned her neck to see what time it was. Maybe it was time to get up. Although she really enjoyed the position.

Hey Weiss, if you want me to stay here stay silent.

…

I'm glad we agree.

With that she closed her eyes again. She was usually the last one to wake up anyway so she might as well wait for one of the girls to tell her to get up.

Pyrrha was the first to rise properly. She was slightly surprised at the position she found herself in but she already knew that the sisters were rather affectionate. Even Yang, once you got past the slightly rough demeanor. When she tried to stand up, Ruby let out a cute whine at the loss of companionship before she cuddled up closer to Yang.

She let out a small giggle. She may have not grown up in that kind of environment but this felt rather nice. If only the air in the room wasn't outright freezing in contrast. Thankfully a morning run would warm her up enough.

-BBW-

"I can't believe you were groping her!" Weiss screamed at her during the breakfast.

I did not! I was only trying to get up. It's not my fault that her chest was under my hand.

For the first time, the two of them had decided that Ivory could take the wheel for the entire day, with the condition of her being responsible. The classes were fine, except a few very questionable remarks that made Ilia wonder whether she received a compliment or was insulted.

The combat class was a bore, with only Ren having a match. Everybody had expected a fierce battle for the number one spot between Pyrrha, Yang and Ruby, but to everyone's disappointment Goodwitch had apparently decided to skip it and started repeating the match ups. Maybe it was for the best thought, given how much destruction they could cause while only training. The arena would not stand after they were finished.

Ruby had dragged Pyrrha to the forge. Most likely to show her some improvements for her arsenal.

I think we should ask her to make something for us as well.

"Why? Myrtenaster is a splendid weapon. She might have a knack for smithing but I doubt she would be able to match it."

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I insist. At least we will see what she can do.

On the way to the dorms Yang's scroll started ringing.

"Yes."

…

"Give me five minutes." She turned around and started walking away.

"Anything important?" Ivory asked her before she could get too far.

"Nah" Yang waved her off. "Just some stuff Ruby had ordered. I'll go pick it up."

"Sure, but don't waste too much time." Ivory smirked. "I know you still haven't finished the paper for dust studies."

She continued to walk towards the dorms, knowing that Yang had most likely flipped her off.

Now onto the important part of the day. She took out her scroll and started going through the contacts.

"Winter is in the starred ones, you know." Weiss quipped.

Ignoring her twin's snark she dialed the video call.

"Hello Weiss." Winter answered in a short time and greeted her with an impassive expression.

"Sorry, are you busy?" Ivory asked. It would be bad if she called her during work.

Her expression slightly softened and she released a sigh. "Somewhat. I've received a large assignment."

"Oh… Want to talk about it?"

"Classified." She said sternly. "But I suppose I could take a small break. How have you been lately?"

They spend some time catching up. Her becoming a second in command, sharing a dislike for scythes and her getting occasional extra lessons from Pyrrha.

"Actually there is something important I wanted to show you." Ivory let Weiss take control, it was more important for her anyway.

She outstretched her arm in front of the scroll's camera and willed a glyph into existence above it. Soon enough, an owl-sized nevermore was perched on her forearm.

"What do you think?" Weiss expectantly asked her elder sister.

"That I can't exactly take a good look through the screen." Winter said in humor. Her upbringing didn't allow for her to openly praise her sister but she could still try. "You did well. I'm sure I'll see more when I come."

"You are coming to Vale?!" Weiss exclaimed.

Winter cursed under her breath for letting it slip. "General Ironwood will be in charge of security during the Vytal festival, I'll be assisting."

While Weiss was slowly descending into panic over embarrassing herself in front of her sister, or brothers forbid, her sister spending time with her team, Ivory took over again.

"That's great!" She beamed at Winter. She took her lessons from Ruby on how to be an adorable little sister. "I'm sure we will find some time during your stay to spend it together."

"Perhaps." Winter didn't want to disappoint her immediately by saying that she would most likely be out of Vale proper for the most of her stay.

"On a different note." Ivory changed the subject. "Are you seeing anyone?"

Winter eyes shot wide before narrowing in suspicion. "No. Weiss, why are you asking?"

"I had a nice dream about small kids running up to me and calling for auntie, I found it cute so I decided to ask." She answered with a cheeky smile. "I love Whitley but I think it will take some time before he gets away from whatever gold-digger Jaques sets him up with. Although I wouldn't mind getting some advice from you in that department."

Winter huffed at the statement about their brother, she could definitely see their father trying to arrange his marriage for financial gain. Then she fully processed Weiss' last words.

"Weiss… are you interested in someone?" She asked carefully.

"Perhaps." She answered with a mischievous look.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Weiss screamed at her in her mind.

"Weiss. Please don't rush into anything. You are-"

"Sister, I'm not blind nor a fool. I assure you that I'll introduce you to all the interesting people I've met here when you arrive."

"Listen to what I'm say-"

At that moment Yang came into the room with her usual grace, meaning that there was no knocking and she was carrying the new glass. Both Ivory and Weiss had to admit that Ruby had worked fast.

"It seems that I have run out of time. It was a pleasure, sister. See you soon."

"Weis-" Ivory disconnected the call.

"What. The. Fuck?! What are- what was that about?!"

I just made sure Winter would definitely find time to spend with us when she arrives. With a satisfied smirk she turned to Yang who was looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Did something happen?"She asked as she started unwrapping the glass.

"Nothing much. Hmm, just to make sure. Will it be a problem for you to meet my elder sister? Preferably without something exploding or being set on fire." She gave Yang a half-hearted glare in warning.

"Sure. Just run it by Ruby." She made a pause. "Or don't. She might decide to have a greeting with fireworks. She tends to go really overboard with those."

"Duly noted." She probably wouldn't get a better answer anyway. "Where are our other teammates? Blake took the arena and I doubt they are still in the forge."

Yang started to slightly shake with barely suppressed laughter. "Funny thing, I took Ruby's stuff down for her and…"

-BBW-

"I need to take measurements for the project." Ruby announced when she and Pyrrha reached her personal room in the forge. It was supposed to be a storage space but Ruby had somehow convinced the master to give it to her. Pyrrha hoped it wasn't done at gunpoint.

"Sure. What do you need me to do?"

"Okay, come here." Ruby gestured to the middle of the room. "Legs at shoulder-width. Arms and fingers outstretched horizontally. Stand upright." She quickly gave her orders.

Pyrrha internally chucked at the shift in demeanor. Ruby would always get extremely professional whenever she was dealing with either grimm or weaponry.

"Eep!" Pyrrha yelped in surprise when Ruby reached under her skirt and measured the width of her thigh.

"You alright?" Ruby asked her while noting the numbers.

"I was just surprised." Pyrrha shyly answered, feeling Ruby's fingers brush over her calves. "Why are you doing my legs, anyway? I thought you needed my arm length."

"Well. Milo and Akouo are good weapons and you are already familiar with them." She started explaining and put a ruler to Pyrrha's neck and went down. "You don't exactly need hands to use your semblance so I was thinking about an active combat suit. Full exoskeleton, added weaponry, ammo and protection. I have already ordered some stuff to make a basic structure so you could try moving around. I hoped you might be able to fly in it too." She stretched the ruler to the floor before frowning and stepping away. "Can you remove the boots? The heels are messing things up."

Pyrrha obliged and was now barefoot on a rather cold floor. Seeing her discomfort, Ruby threw a few petals on the floor to make it a bit better.

"Don't you think it's too much?" Pyrrha asked. "You don't have one, nor does Yang."

Now satisfied with proper height measurements she looked up to Pyrrha. "I don't need one because I rely on speed and not on defense. Also I can make decent armor by covering myself in petals. Yang actually has a combat suit but until Beacon sends us on an actual mission, it will stay in my closet. The thing burns through dust like crazy when fully used."

Pyrrha looked down at the crouching girl. "That's right! We haven't even spoken about the costs!" Pyrrha exclaimed. "This can't be cheap to make and-"

"Relax, I've got everything covered. I can't have my friends go hunting with subpar equipment." She stood up and smiled at her. "Hmmm." She took a better look at Pyrrha. "Can you put the armor down? And the belt too? Your skirt isn't thick enough to matter but the rest will make it faulty."

Pyrrha felt her face heat up but removed the belt without complaint. Her armor on the other hand… "Ehm… I don't… have a bra under it." It was for the same reason Ruby was asking her to put it down. Better protection, less friction and more comfort. Her mind had erased the manager that said that straps would ruin her looks. At least it was easy to adjust or she would have died of shame if she had to go to someone else to adjust it for her.

"Oh! Sorry, give me a second!" Ruby ran off and soon she heard a beep and a click as the room closed.

The room was opened the entire time… She really needed to get some sense of decency into Ruby, something Yang should have done but considering how many times she saw the blonde walk around the dorm in her underwear she doubted she taught Ruby anything.

"Okay, this should do!"

I can't believe I'm doing this… why am I worrying? She is just a kid. Pyrrha removed the armor and did her hardest to fight the blush that had covered her face and was now spreading to the rest of her body.

"Is something wrong?! Are you ill?! Oh no, you caught a cold because of the window!I'msosorryyy!" Ruby jumped up to her and had to balance on her toes just to press a palm of her head on her forehead.

Nonono, stay away! Dammit what's wrong with me!? "I'm fine, Ruby. Just a bit tired. Let's finish this, okay?"

Ruby continued to look at her with worry, still being too close and occasionally brushing over her chest, before giving her a determined nod.

The part of Pyrrha's mind that was in charge of vanity and self-esteem felt very offended that Ruby didn't even stop to stare. She might have not liked being so famous but damn she was beautiful and nobody would be taking that!

"Okay, straighten up so I can finish." Ruby said from behind her as she put the ruler around her hips.

Kill me now. Ruby's warm breath was slowly rolling down her back as she was taking the measures of her neck and shoulders. She would definitely leave Beacon if she didn't manage to keep it down when Ruby put the Ruler around her chest.

Damned hormones…

*beep* "Rubes, I've brought your stuff!" Yang called as she opened the door.

"Yang! Close the door!"

Brothers take me. I'm ready to go.

"Sure." *boom* Yang kicked the door closed. "I thought you weren't so protective of your stuff he-" She turned around and stared at the half naked sweating Pyrrha who was as red as her hair.

"This isn't what-" Pyrrha tried to defend herself before Yang waved her off.

"Been there myself. Stay quiet and in one place, it will end faster then. Next time take earphones with you."

She heard Ruby scoff behind her. "No earphones! Yang started squirming because the song was 'too good'! I'm not dealing with that again."

"Tyrant." Yang smirked at her sister.

Pyrrha was inclined to agree.

"Either help or don't distract me!"

"Fine, fine. I'll go install the stupid window." She shot one last look at Pyrrha. "Last time she was taking mine we were at it for a few hours." She left with a wink.

"Don't worry, I'm almost done." Ruby refuted her sister's claim.

Thank brothers!

"Yang's took so long because her suit is skintight and I really needed the most precise data I could get." She explained.

"It's fine." Pyrrha forced herself to sound fine. "I'm really grateful you are putting your skills to good use."

"Thanks! I know! Yang always wanted a massage afterwards! Apparently her muscles would get all stiff. Do you want one too?" She innocently asked.

"Maybe later. I didn't spend too much time here anyway." She weakly declined.

A few more very challenging minutes have passed before Ruby declared that she was finished.

"Okay, now that I have some basics I can make some decent sketches." She talked while Pyrrha was getting redressed. "I think… three days and we can try flying!"

"Sounds good." I need to ask Weiss what spa she went to. "I think I'll go unwind before calling it a day. What about you?"

"I'm staying here, I had to wait for this stuff for over a week!" She was already waist deep inside one of the boxes Yang brought.

"Sure, just don't stay down here for too long." She said with a smile and left the room.

As soon as she closed the door and made sure nobody was around, she slumped with her back pressed to the wall and her breathing becoming much louder.

Was I drugged the first time they were taking my measures? I don't think I would have survived that otherwise.

"Yeah… a long walk sounds good right now."

-BBW-

"So… you're telling me that Ruby had dragged Pyrrha into her lair, stripped her down and started touching her all over?!" Weiss screamed at Yang while Ivory was laughing hysterically at the backseat.

"It's a standard procedure, you know?" Yang answered, ignoring the accusation.

"The hell it is! I didn't go through something like that!"

"Do you wear armor?"

"...I have a corset."

Yang rolled her eyes and strolled to the remains of her bed.

"I take it you will be sleeping with Ruby from now on?" Ivory commented at the sight of the burned lower bunk. Weiss had her fill of insanity for the day and refused to discuss it any further.

"Well, it was a possibility before we decided on bunk beds." She could probably salvage the pillow but the rest would need some work. "I'll probably repair it and buy new stuff on the weekend."

"Oh so you already have plans." Ivory drawled out.

Yang turned around. "You wanted to do something with the rest of us?"

"Not exactly." She was being intentionally dodgy. She might have decided on the course of action but Weiss was still skittish.

Yang, feeling that another pep talk might be in order, sat down next to her and waited for a proper answer.

"I was thinking about going to see Vale. I had enough of being stuck in one place all the time. And I need a guide." She expectantly looked at Yang.

"... are you asking me out?" Yang deadpanned after a while.

"Depends." Ivory smirked. "I'm all for it but Weiss wants to… test the waters so to speak. Regardless, your answer? Or have I jumped the gun by assuming you even swing that way?"

It wasn't the first time someone has asked her out. A lot of arguably braindead boys and a few girls who were into her tomboy behavior but she always shot them down. She just wasn't interested.

They were too shallow. They lacked the spirit, the drive that would take them beyond their limits and elevate them into something greater. Someone she would be able to call equal. Beacon helped with that. Weiss and Blake were the prime examples, even if Blake was hiding it. Pyrrha, Ren and Nora less so but not every goal had to be exceptional. Ilia was a follower through and through and until she found a way out of Blake's shadow she wouldn't even look at her.

"Fine." Yang agreed. "No loss if it doesn't work."

"And if it does work out?" Ivory suggestively asked.

"You still have your other half to convince."

-BBW-

Blake and Ilia were returning from the library after doing their daily dose of homework. Unfortunately, despite the days work done Ilia was still seething.

"That bitch! I swear, if Goodwitch pairs us up, I'll send her packing back to Atlas!"

Blake could only sigh at this point. Yes, Weiss has been a bit more… assertive today and it seemed that all the glares Ilia was sending her finally reached the boiling point.

"…ah!" Her hidden ears twitched.

"You heard that?" She tried to focus on it again but it was so faint that she barely heard it to begin with.

"No… you heard something?" Ilia also squared up and put her hand on her whip.

"I think?" She looked around, closed doors and windows. No light was coming from below the doors. "It was… a scream? Or a moan."

…

"That's it. I'm calling Tukson and telling him to stop selling you smut."

/

/

/

Do you know that great time, when you, your colleagues and your boss have been sitting on your asses for almost a month only to start catching up during the last few days?

I mean… sorry it took me so long.

Although I still wonder what makes some 300 people regularly read my crap.