Cliffside Chat

Ruby POV:

As I watch Sapphire run down the hallway, I realize that this cannot last. I won't let it. Anyone can see that she is in a fragile state, and the last thing she needs right now is to believe herself to be isolated; to be completely without anyone to rely on for help even just the slightest bit. We're a team, whether we like it or not; whether we believe it or not.

As Sapphire disappeared from view, I turned back to my other teammates.

"Okay, what are we going to do," I started the conversation we should have had a while ago.

Sapphire POV:

Again…

I just ran away….

I run, and run, and run. I run until I can no longer see the training building. Until the beating in my chest gave way to the silence of the evening. The scenery whizz by: from the white walls and red-carpeted floors of the academy's interior to the grey pavers of the academy walkways, from the walkways to the grass and trees of the academy outskirts, and finally to the cliffside overlooking the city of Vale. I walk the rest of the way to the side of the cliff and sit, dangling my legs over the side.

I took in the silence as I gazed out over the cliff. I watch as the sun sets into the sea, leaving an aura of orange to envelop the horizon, and the fading sky as the blue hue slowly gives way for the night sky. I close my eyes and allow the silence to wash over me, while the chill in the evening breeze bites at my exposed skin. It's all so….tranquilizing.

"Haaaaah," I let out all the breath in my lungs as if that would somehow expel everything tumbling around in my head.

"Great view, isn't it? It's been a long time since I've been able to gaze at its beauty so leisurely." A familiar male voice calls out from behind me, startling me momentarily.

I open my eyes once again and gaze out at the cityscape. Ozpin….

I don't even turn around as I calmly answer, "Yeah, even the views from the tallest buildings in the city don't compare."

I hear the rustling of grass grow closer, as Ozpin behind me steps closer. Even as the man stands to my left I don't turn my head from the city below. A period of silence permeates the conversation.

After a while, Ozpin finally speaks again.

"Well?" he asks.

"Well, what?" I reply with another question.

"What has brought you, Miss Sapphire, all the way out here?" He calmly asks.

Another period of silence interrupts the conversation, as I try to think of the answer.

I didn't really have a destination in mind when I ran away. I don't even know why I ran so far. Was I afraid of being chased? Maybe, but by what? My team? I don't know.

I just ran away when I almost approached Ruby, Blake, Weiss, and Yang like nothing happened. Like I didn't betray their trust but refused to answer their questions. They thought I trusted them; I did too, but apparently, I was just lying. Lying to myself, but most importantly lying to them.

After a long silence, I finally answered, "I don't know."

"Is that so?" He slowly let out in that same calm voice.

"Yeah…" I sigh out.

More silence intrudes on the conversation as I watch the city below light up; one light at a time.

Ozpin however speaks again, "I have heard that you have been avoiding contact with your team."

I flinch slightly at the statement.

Instead of a verbal answer, this time, I give only a slight nod.

I return my attention back to the city. It is almost surreal seeing the city from up here; it's so silent. Even from the highest rooftop, I've found myself on in Vale, the noise of hurried people always seems to reach.

"You know, I've always been envious of the people down there who had someone to return to; those who had companionship of some kind. Ever since the facility, I could never find that sort of thing for myself," I slowly and methodically started speaking.

I don't even know why I'm telling Ozpin this. I guess I just wanted to get it off my chest? I don't know.

Anyway, I continued, "For the longest time it was just me. I had no one else. No friends. No family. Nothing. My only semblance of companionship was a framed picture of people who I can never meet again."

At this point I felt my voice start to waver, "Every night I would wish them good night, and every morning I wish them good morning. Even if I refused to think about it I knew that there was no one there, that it was pointless, but I couldn't let that go; it was all I had."

I paused to compose myself.

"I thought I finally found something here, with Ruby, Blake, Weiss, and Yang. Even if we didn't all get off on the right foot, I still felt like I had found myself a new family, but I just screwed it up. I betrayed their trust, and now, it's just me again," I let it all out.

More silence permeated the atmosphere, but I paid it little attention. I just gazed at the cityscape.

"Ah, trust. So paradoxically both fragile and tough. Sometimes trust can be broken with even the slightest nudge, and others it stands stronger than the very walls of this city. Now, I do not know what you supposedly did to break your team's bond of trust with you, but if they are your family as you said, I have my doubts that everything would fall apart so easily," Ozpin slowly spoke out, without even a single waiver of his voice.

I hear the grass rustle as Ozpin turns around and starts to walk away.

Before he leaves completely though he speaks on final time.

"Assumptions are dangerous, Miss Sapphire. It leads to actions or words that can never be taken back, no matter how much one might wish to. So be certain of your assumptions, they can lead to eternal regret…" He spoke with meaning and emotion behind his words that I was unable to trace, but his point is clear.

Not that it makes this any easier. Still, if I don't want to sleep outside, I will have to go back and face them.

I roughly lay my back down on the grass and gaze up at the sky. Stars are starting to make themselves known in the darkening sky.

"Haaaaah, It's late..." I mutter.

*Grumble*

After my stomach lightly grumbles, I blush slightly. Even though no one could hear it but me, it was still a little embarrassing.

"I'm hungry," I complain to myself.

I pull out my scroll and check the time.

7:38, huh, too bad….