Chapter Text
Life hadn’t turned out exactly how Weiss imagined it. She’d always envisioned herself as becoming a huntress restoring her family’s honor, deposing her father, and making a name for herself as a devoted, strong woman before settling down with a proper husband.
Well, that was on good days anyway. On darker days she’d assumed she’d graduate and be stuck marrying some idiotic suitor of her father’s choosing while watching him run the company into the ground and becoming a copy of her mother.
Of course, then she met her idol, Pyrrha Nikos, in the flesh, and quickly realized she was more than a little gay. And when she’d gotten paired on a full team of attractive girls her feelings had gotten much, much worse.
Thankfully whilst Yang was attractive aesthetically Weiss was fairly sure they’d murder each other in any sort of relationship. She’d also already been in something of a menage a trois with a set of older students the rest of their team hadn’t met yet. So while they could be good teammates and friends, Yang wasn’t the sort of person Weiss felt she could settle down with.
Of course, even though Yang was attractive she had nothing on her other teammates. Blake Belladonna, despite everything else, had a very alluring aesthetic and pulled off the aloof and mysterious look with ease.
She was highly skilled and deadly in more ways than one, and Weiss had caught her and Yang doing yoga together on occasion which proved she was flexible in all the best ways.
She was also smart and highly motivated. They had briefly been at odds when she’d revealed she’d been a Faunus, as Weiss' family had always held a grudge against the former Faunus-based terrorist organization, the White Fang.
Thankfully said organization was recently under new management, by Blake's parents no less, and a third leader, Sienna Khan, had worked with them to depose the despicable Adam Taurus and had gotten him thrown into jail.
Now Blake's Faunus heritage and connections with the White Fang were seen in a positive light, and the organization had returned to its peaceful roots, welcoming all who would assist in their fight for equal rights.
Weiss had joined because she knew exactly how much her father would hate it and be unable to call her on it without looking bad. He couldn’t exactly openly state that he wanted her out of a nonviolent organization that wanted to help people.
After they’d put that behind them she and Blake had grown much closer than before, and she was now one of Weiss' best friends rivaled only by Ruby.
Ruby Rose. Her partner, team leader, friend, and on the rare occasions she could afford to be honest with herself, her steadily growing crush. Ruby was everything Weiss was not. She was outgoing, and yet awkward and shy. Highly intelligent and yet incredibly thick at times. Able to instantly get a read on a weapon when she saw it and was unable to recall most of anything she read in a textbook that didn’t have to do with Grimm, or weapons.
She’d barged into Weiss’ life during initiation, and even though they’d had a rocky start Weiss wouldn’t trade their friendship for the world. If she was feeling down Ruby didn’t let her, and she often made sure to grab Blake and do something on a whim as a trio. Weiss often complained about whatever Ruby had planned, but she inevitably ended up loving it. On the rare occasions Blake was feeling poorly Ruby grabbed Weiss to make sure they both did the same thing for her.
Ruby was a breath of fresh air in a life that had seemed like it was full of stale recycled air in a closed room. She had smashed open the door and taken Weiss along for the ride.
Blake and Ruby got along incredibly well. Blake was reserved much like Weiss was at least in public, but in private Weiss only wished she was so brave. She’d seen Blake grab a book and let Ruby rest against her as they read together, or even sometimes Ruby would read to Blake while the two of them nuzzled together, with Blake gently running her fingers through Ruby's hair. On occasion, the two of them would even talk about writing a book of their own.
The two of them had invited Weiss to join them and their book sessions, but Weiss would only ever accept on the rare occasions she could muster the courage to do so. Every time she had, however, it had been a wonderful experience.
She wasn’t blind to her own feelings, of course. Not only had she felt a growing need to spend more and more time with Ruby, but the same thing was also happening regarding Blake, and Weiss was beginning to get worried.
Her parents weren't a good guideline on how to start a relationship. And that was just with one person, she had no reference for dating two people at the same time. She knew it was a thing thanks to Yang's own polyamorous relationship, but Weiss thought that it would never happen for her; it seemed that Blake's confidence and Ruby's forwardness were too good for one another, and her two crushes would likely end up dating each other.
So she’d simply settled for trying to be the best friend, teammate, and person she could be to both of them, and to her surprise they seemed to like Weiss for who she was, which honestly she wasn’t expecting…at all.
She’d even poured her heart out to Winter who had listened patiently when she’d seen how out of sorts she was. After almost thirty minutes of listening to Weiss vent and complain she’d offered her unbiased opinion.
Weiss wasn’t ready for anything major, but she could work up to that. Bringing them coffee, or in Blake’s case tea, helping Ruby or rather letting Ruby help her with weapon maintenance, sparring with both of them, and generally just trying to spend more time with them together and separately.
Her sister said it would help condition her and she’d start doing more on her own naturally when the actions no longer unnerved her and she was more comfortable subconsciously.
Having no other ideas she’d done as her sister had advised and it had worked! She’d started with little touches, lingering fingers on a hand when handing over a drink, a friendly peck or hug that went on just a second too long, and she’d noticed they’d done the same in return for her, which was great…except now she had no idea what to do beyond that.
Try as she might, Weiss couldn't help but notice that Ruby still spent as much of her free time as she could with Blake. Weiss wasn't about to give up, but she had hoped her extra efforts would have given either one of them an inkling that she was a little jealous, and wanted to join them as much as she could.
She and Ruby did, however, have “bestie” time scheduled for tonight and that was something to look forward to. In fact, "bestie" time is the same thing Ruby called her and Blake's little dates, so in a way, Weiss considered that a small victory.
Of course, just like everything Weiss ever did, things went wrong. The brother gods proved they had a sense of humor by having Blake and Ruby return to their dorm, while Weiss was conveniently hidden away in the bathroom.
“I’m glad you’ll be joining us tonight, Ruby. I always feel much more optimistic about what we’re doing when you’re around to cheer us on,” Blake admitted as her ears flicked in response to Ruby’s grin.
“You know it bestie!” Ruby returned with a wide smile. "I love coming out to see you guys in action! You and Velvet kick serious butt!" Ruby made a small punching motion with her fists, which earned her an adorable giggle from Blake. Weiss, having overheard the two of them talking, was not best pleased to say the least. She gently peeled open the bathroom door, with the creaking alerting Ruby to her presence. “Look, it's our other bestie! Hi Weiss!” Ruby said in glee, waving enthusiastically as if Weiss hadn’t seen her from a dozen feet away.
Still, Weiss returned the wave almost involuntarily, forgetting that she was supposed to be upset. Blake looked amused at the byplay before their conversation caught up with her. “Ruby…I thought we had dinner plans tonight?” Weiss asked, hating how desperate it sounded to her own ears. Based on the wincing Blake was doing Weiss was sure she’d caught the tone, as her ears drooped a bit and she hung back to let Weiss and Ruby talk it out.
Ruby’s face, meanwhile, took on a deathly pallor before she grabbed her planner, which Weiss insisted she carry with her everywhere after giving it to her for Christmas. Ruby started to mumble to herself, quickly navigating to the right day with a fearful look in her eyes.
“Oh, cookie clusters. I’m so stupid,” Ruby lamented as she looked between the two for a moment and back at her planner as if hoping it would change if she wished for it hard enough.
“You have a…meeting tonight?” Weiss asked Blake delicately. Despite herself, Blake raised an eyebrow at Weiss since she knew that Weiss memorized all their schedules as soon as they were given out.
“Yes, our monthly meeting on campus. I can go without Ruby but I asked her to go with me because it always makes the meetings more bearable, and we get more sign-ups,” Blake answered before Weiss narrowed her eyes at her teammate. Attractive or not she was well aware that when she’d scheduled that dinner with Ruby there was nothing else on the planner.
Based on the flinch Blake made, minute as it was, she’d realized what Weiss had picked up even though it was likely Ruby’s fault for scheduling both and not realizing it so she just shook her head at Blake.
They’d come far from their first year and if she could trust Blake with her life then she could trust she hadn’t done this with malice aforethought. She’d likely just asked and Ruby had agreed not wanting to let a friend down. Weiss would have to just…be content being pushed to the side. Again.
She knew how important it was to Blake for Ruby to be at these meetings, and she truly was making a difference. Weiss herself didn’t attend outside of very rare planned events, mainly because of the negative reaction she’d garner being her father’s daughter. Regardless of how far the White Fang had come, there would always be some lingering resentment for the Schnees.
Regardless of her views or not there were still others like Adam who would gladly try to take their pound of flesh and hurt the man’s daughter in an attempt to hurt him. Not that any of them knew her father didn’t care for her at all now that she wasn’t his puppet anymore.
Jacques did the bare minimum and paid for her schooling with a modest stipend to keep up appearances but beyond that, he avoided all contact with her. Honestly, she preferred it that way and she made sure to save what she could for when he likely cut her off in the future. She gave a sad smile before Ruby smashed a fist into her hand. Weiss ignored that said hand contained the planner for the time being.
“What if we go after, or before?” Ruby said, trying her best to salvage the situation. She couldn't stand either of her besties being sad, even a little. Weiss was happy to take Ruby up on her offer, more than willing to spend even a reduced amount of alone time with her dolt.
However Ruby continued speaking and quickly ruined the whole thing, "-and Blake can come too and we can all hang out together since Yang is gonna be out tonight!” Ruby declared before she saw Weiss’ downcast face that she couldn’t hide in time. “Wait no Weiss tell me what’s wrong?” Ruby asked quickly. Now, more than ever, Weiss wished she was brave enough to be honest. Instead, she settled for shaking her head.
“It’s alright,” Weiss stated, quickly averting her gaze from either of her teammates. She couldn't let them know how much this meant to her. It was a little silly, after all. Ruby nodded, still concerned and a little unhappy that Weiss was sad, but knowing when not to push her luck.
“After the meeting, we’re all coming back here and having a movie night, okay?! And then we’re having a girl’s night in! Team Leader order! We’ll watch movies, and uh eat popcorn, and…stuff?” Ruby trailed off like the awkward dork she was who’d literally never been to a girl’s night before.
Blake giggled quietly before adding to Ruby's childish attempt to describe a fun night in. "And paint our nails? And talk about cute girls?"
Despite feeling a little down that their date night had been cut short, Weiss couldn't help but release a small giggle at Ruby's energetic antics and Blake's subtle callback. They quickly reminded her of why she'd had a crush on her teammates for so long in the first place, and helped eliminate her frustration at least a little bit.
Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all.
The time seemed to drag as Weiss waited in the room with several movies ready on her scroll, her nightclothes on, and popcorn at the ready in several bowls knowing Ruby would devour one on her own and then finish whatever she and Blake didn’t. She also made sure there were some sodas and a few cookies for Ruby and some very strange tuna candies for Blake she’d gotten her once on a whim that she now adored.
Whenever they had movie nights they always ended up on Ruby’s bunk, the flap blocking out the outside world made it appear more isolating and intimate than it really was. Weiss had paid a group of actual engineers and construction workers to make sure it was properly in place. It would now be able to hold a grand piano so the three of them wouldn’t be an issue.
Deciding to be daring she looked at her nightclothes and undid the very top button, and then one more before she got comfortable in Ruby’s bed and not a moment too soon as she heard the dorm room open and the two came back in with Blake sounding pleased meaning the meeting had gone well.
She gave them a quick wave and she heard the other two start to change although Ruby had left the room to do so. Soon enough they were all snuggled up around Ruby with the snacks passed out and watching movies.
This…this was alright. In fact, Weiss would almost call this wonderful. But she couldn't shake the sinking feeling that things weren't entirely equal between them all. Sure, both Blake and Ruby had gone out of their way numerous times to include her in their friend activities. And sure, they seemed to like, no, adore her company as much as she loved theirs. But at the same time she noticed their fleeting glances at one another.
Ruby admiring Blake's figure, or Blake staring in awe at the way Ruby wields Crescent Rose. It was definitely signs of affection that the two girls were showing each other, and the constant repetition of it all was driving Weiss crazy. She was slowly growing more frustrated at the situation, certain that she was going to be stuck in limbo between the two prettiest girls she had ever seen in her life.
As all these thoughts were running through her head, she remembered something that Yang had told her a few months ago. Velvet Scarlatina, one of her girlfriends, had gone through the same sorts of problems during the older trio's fledgling relationship.
She couldn't keep things to herself, sitting by and saying nothing while Blake slowly wooed Ruby. She couldn't bear to be left out and be without either of them. She needed to talk to Velvet.
She’d talk to Velvet during their free day tomorrow and just do her best to enjoy the movies for now. Despite her worried thoughts her mind still wondered if Blake's hand was an inch closer to hers than when they started their girl night, not to mention Ruby's very form-fitting pajamas that the younger girl had definitely outgrown. Weiss shook her head to get rid of the intrusive thoughts, certain that they were just coincidences.
Blake…needed some help. She wasn’t blind to how attractive her two unattached teammates were, and how much they kept making moves on each other. It didn't take long for the Faunus to work out that she was attracted to both Ruby and Weiss in equal measure, but the harder part was trying to figure out how the three of them could even balance such a relationship if things were to work out.
Blake knew that she needed to talk to someone before they drove her even more insane. Somebody she knew was already in a three-way relationship. Yang Xiao-Long. Yang was her partner; she'd help her, probably with puns and teasing, but the blonde was reliable and caring if nothing else.
She'd speak to Yang when she was free tomorrow, but for now, Blake tried to relax and enjoy the movies. Was it her imagination or were Ruby’s clothes way tighter than they should be? And were the top buttons on Weiss’s nightclothes undone? She assumed Weiss' loose shirt was an accident, as such a move from the prudish girl was basically the equivalent of bedroom eyes or taking out a front page ad in the paper.
She’d do her best to enjoy the night as she very slowly slid into Ruby’s side and moved her hand closer to Weiss…on the off chance she wanted to hold it.
Ruby really loved it when she got to see the soft caring side of Weiss. She was such a good person and so passionate. A lot like Blake when she was speaking at the meetings.
She felt Blake cuddle up closer to her and was glad that putting on her old clothes seemed to be working. Of course, she tried to take very discreet peeks over at Weiss when she wasn’t looking.
It wasn’t her fault! They were both so gosh darn pretty!
Ruby wasn't going to lie to herself, she needed help. Who though? Uncle Qrow? Uh, maybe not. Yang? Oh god no. The other two people she’d go to were the people she needed help with.
Nora? No, it would just be her talking about Ren and then threatening her to stay away in the nicest way possible and Nora wouldn't let Ren out of her sight to talk to Ruby.
Pyrrha? Maybe, but she'd probably just spend the whole time talking about Jaune and her many attempts to woo the dense boy. Besides, Ruby's tastes ran a little more…princessy than that.
Caramelized Crunchies she had a type.
Ruby racked her brain for anybody else she possibly knew who would listen to her problems. She came close to giving up when a certain somebody popped into her mind. Coco Adel was someone she knew pretty well due to the specialized team leader classes she needed to take. On top of that, she was Yang's girlfriend, as well as Velvet's, which meant she knew a thing or two about keeping two girlfriends happy at once.
She'd help Ruby, leader to leader! On top of that, they had a free day tomorrow. Everything was coming up Rose!
She’d just enjoy tonight as she cuddled up closer to both Blake and Weiss, and worry about the rest tomorrow.