A Talk Pt. 1

Sapphire POV:

I can feel my body want to contract into itself as Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang escort me back to the dorm. I feel small…. I'm scared….

I know what Yang wants to ask, and I'm not ready to answer them. I don't know how to answer them. I'm scared…..

I don't know what to do….

Will they hate me if I refuse to answer? But, I don't want to!

Please, just leave it buried….

It's better that way….

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Yang POV:

Guilt builds up in the pit of my stomach as I watch Sapph slowly descend into panic. Should I just let this go? No! How can we, as a team, even begin to help her if we don't even know what's going on. I will have to push through.

But, looking at Sapph so terrified, I can't help but feel I am doing something wrong….

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After what felt like forever we finally made it to the dorm. The trip itself wasn't actually that long, but the tense atmosphere made it almost unbearable.

Ruby unlocks the door, and we all scatter in one by one; almost as if to run away from something.

First, was Sapph; She all but dashed inside and made a beeline to the bookshelf beside her bed. She scooped up her picture and held it to her chest. I've noticed over the weeks that she tends to use that photo as a sort of security blanket.

Then, Blake walked in, nervously sitting on her bed, and did her best to regain her composure. Her state is no surprise; Sapph is arguably, out of all of us, the closest to Blake, and I'm sure it's not easy for Blake to see Sapph like this.

Weiss walked over and sat at Sapph's desk. Even if outwardly she mostly appears unaffected, she is far from that. Weiss may act ice cold, but she cares, far more than she would ever admit.

I held the door for Ruby, so she could go in next, but she just awkwardly stood behind Sapph. Her worry is obvious, but she just doesn't know what to do.

None of them like the current situation, and I can't say I do either. Sapphire looks so afraid and despondent. Her ears are held tight to her head, and her tail hangs lifelessly from her waist. She just seems so small.

Even now, I am constantly second-guessing myself. Should I go through with this even if Sapph so obviously hates it? Is this really for the best? Or am I just satisfying my curiosity at Sapph's expense?

ARG! This is all so frustrating!

I know it will be better for her in the long run if Sapph talks to us, but….

No! No buts…

I shake myself out of my thoughts, and follow the rest into the room, closing and locking the door behind me. The room was dead silent; no one knew what to say so nobody said a word. I sat next to Blake as I contemplated what I would do. This is a delicate situation, and I don't want this to be harder than it has to be for Sapph.

Here goes nothing.

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Sapphire POV:

The room was deathly silent, but I paid it no attention. I was lost in my own head, so I held my picture tightly to my chest in an effort to regain some mental clarity. No matter the situation this picture always seemed to be able to calm me.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

In….

Out….

There is no need to be afraid.

In….

Out….

There is no need to panic.

In….

"Sapph, are you ready to talk?" I hear Yang hesitantly ask.

No.

Out…

But, I don't think that matters at this point.

I open my eyes, and, with some amount of recovered composure, I turn to Yang, Weiss, and Blake….Where's Ruby?

Suddenly Ruby's voice comes from beside me, almost giving me a heart attack!

"Are you okay?" she worriedly asked.

"!!!!!" I silently screamed.

Shit! I must have been more distracted than I thought if Ruby was able to get so close to me without my notice.

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Ruby POV:

I watch as Sapphire looks over to the rest of the team, but none of my worries has been sated. Sapphire is still tightly clutching that picture to her chest, and her ears and tail show no life. Her face has composure, but she is far from composed.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"!!!!!" she silently screamed, and nearly fell over.

I…. Wasn't expecting that….

I did my best to hold in my laughter at her reaction, but the teary-eyed glare she threw at me was too much.

"Hahahahahaha!" My laughter belted out.

I couldn't help it. Sapphire is always teasing me, and now I can see why. That wronged look on her face is simply priceless! So much so that I had to take a picture.

-Snap!

The artificial noise of a camera shutter sounds from my Scroll as I immortalize this moment digitally. This seems to alert Sapphire to my actions, however, as I notice her eyes, still tearfully glaring, glance at the scroll in my hand and then back at me.

I see her glare grow darker, "Delete it," she says quietly.

I feel a smug smirk come to my face, and I decide to push it further.

"What?" I ask with fake confusion

"Delete! It!" She repeated herself much louder and emphasized her words this time.

She seemed almost ready to pounce on me, but I wanted to push further.

"Nope!" I teasingly answered with a pop of the p.

I seemingly touched the final straw as she jumped on me, pushing me to the ground. My scroll fell out of my hand and rolled away on the carpeted floor.

"Then I'll do it for you!" She angrily spoke from on top of me.

She reached for my scroll, but I couldn't do anything. She was straddling me, so I couldn't move. Still, I can't let her delete my blackm-, I mean, precious memory! I will have to fight dirty…

Luckily for me, she neglected to hold my arms down, and she left herself very defenseless while reaching for my scroll.

"Hmhmhm," I let out a low chuckle as I raised my hands to her sides.

"What are yo-?!!" Sapphire notices, but it's too late.

Her time of reckoning has come! I wiggle my fingers across her ribcage.

"HAHAHAHA, Stop, HAHAHA!" She let out laughter in bursts, and I ignored her pleas for mercy.

You see, Sapphire is very ticklish; I learned this the day she joined the team, but I haven't had the chance to do so again, until now.

Our positions were suddenly reversed, as now I am straddling her; running my devilish hands all over her body.

"Take this! And This! And This!" I yell one after the other as I assault her severely ticklish body.

"HAHAHAHA, No, Stop, HAHAHAHA!" She could barely get any words out past her bellowing laughter, but I won't be satisfied until she yields.

"Hahahaha," I let out my laughter.

"What are you two doing!?" A shrill voice interrupted my fun.

Boooooo!