Salutations!...or something like that. Recently, I've really come to like RWBY fanfics, so I decided "Hey, I have fingers, and I'm physically capable of pressing down some keys, so why don't I go write one of my own?" So here we are.
This chapter's only about 2k words, but I hope the premise is interesting. I'm not trying to make this story too depressing, but I noticed after revision that this chapter does kinda have an edgy vibe to it. Oh well. It'll get better after a couple of chapters, I think.
Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY.
10 years ago...
Taiyang Xiao Long was facing a dilemma. One that came in the form of half-cyborg monster of a man.
The man before him had given him an ultimatum. He had come to Taiyang with a way to save his eldest daughter, something he'd been desperately searching for all throughout the last five years.
Yang, the daughter he'd made with his first wife and former teammate, Raven Branwen, would finally be free of the conflicting emotions that were slowly tearing her mind apart. He himself would also finally find relief from the same problem.
That problem was, namely, that they couldn't find a way to hate someone they loved. Both he and Yang loved her too much to actually hurt or abandon her, leading to day after day of literal agony for them both. There was nothing they could- no, there was nothing they were willing to do to find relief.
Until James Ironwood had shown up in Patch, and later at the doorstep of his house.
"What do you think, Taiyang," he began, his tone oddly sympathetic despite him adopting his 'business persona', "Will you allow us to use your daughter, Ruby Rose, as our test subject?"
Normally, faced with an offer as absurd as that, his explosive temper would've acted up immediately and Ironwood would've been kicked out of the house before he could even finish speaking.
However, this time, the circumstances were different. He couldn't take any more. Yang couldn't keep doing this to herself.
On the surface, it appeared James was offering him a choice. Taiyang knew differently. James knew that he couldn't refuse even if he wanted to; his choice would end up destroying his family if he did.
Though, it would have an irreversible effect no matter how he responded.
There was a lesser evil here, of that he was sure. He just had to figure out what it was.
Should he accept the deal from the devil before him and risk cosigning his youngest to oblivion?
Alternatively, would it be better to continue indulging in this pointless altruism, risking the mental health of both Yang and himself?
He really needed to plant a foot up Qrow's ass for telling James about Ruby. If he'd never been presented with this choice, he could've wasted away with Yang in the painful bliss of protecting Ruby.
"Well, Taiyang? I'm waiting for your decision. If you refuse, I'll simply walk out of here and never-" he was cut off by a sudden interruption from the blond.
"Shut up for a second, James!" he yelled across the table. He clenched his hand and furrowed his brow, every instinct telling him to just shut the hardass up with his fists. Realizing that, though it would be really satisfying, it wouldn't actually accomplish anything, he took a calming breath and forced his body to relax. "Let me think this over, please. It's not as simple as you're making this out to be. It's..." he trailed off, sorrow marring his features, "We're talking about my five year old daughter, you know?"
Ironwood looked taken aback at his initial outburst, but his surprise was soon replaced with sympathy. "I apologize. Trust me when I say it was never my intention to pressure you into making a decision. I have no issue with waiting longer." He smiled reassuringly at Taiyang. "After all," he began, "I'm doing this as a favor for a friend. While it's true that I do profit if you agree, this is about something much more important. I also want what's best for the both of you. For Ruby as well. "
The blond man was stunned. Ironwood, Ironwood was actually sincerely trying to help him.
"Say, James, seen any flying pigs lately? "
He received a raised eyebrow in response. "Taiyang, are you okay? Did I lay this on you too quickly?"
"How about some kinda robots? Seen any of those taking over and mimicking humanity yet?"
"About that..." Taiyang cut him off again.
"Never mind. I guess I'm just having having a hard time believing that you're genuinely trying to help us."
His eyebrow raised once again. "Is it so hard to accept? The general public knows of me as an affable character."
"And the rest of us have been exposed to you enough to know that that's a load of crap," Taiyang retorted. They both fell into silence once more.
The gears in the blond's head were whirring into overdrive, desperately searching for the best answer.
'James said it would be what's best for Ruby as well... Would it really be for the better?'
It was true that if he decided to go through with this then Ruby would lead an easier life. She would no longer be discriminated against for elements out of her control. She could go outside, meet friends at school, and, though she would have a much harder time, she would have the chance of actualizing her dream of becoming a great huntress.
He and Yang would finally be able to move on with their lives.
Ruby could actually have a chance to become normal.
Taiyang gathered his resolve and revealed his choice to the other man.
It was a beautiful summer day, she should think. It was hot, but not hot enough to make her sweat, so she should be grateful, she thought. The breeze carried the pleasant smells of nature into her nose, creating a relaxing environment, she should think.
Uncle Qrow just said 'Hi' to her so she should give a cheerful response, she thought.
"Hi, Uncle Qrow! I'm fine! It's a nice day! I think I should be a happy girl since you came 'n all!" she put on her widest, happiest grin and beamed up at her uncle.
He faltered for a second, something flashing across his face, but Ruby didn't really understand so she didn't ask about it because why ask about something she might not understand anyway and she was supposed to be cheerful right now and she would probably have rethink her attitude if she asked 'cause it would probably be something bad and it'd look weird if she was happy when talking about bad things.
Qrow was looking at her like she was weird, and she guessed she kinda was, but she didn't really wanna let anyone know 'cause the army guy told her to keep it a secret. Though...
'I think I should feel bad for not telling the truth to Uncle Qrow but the army guy looked really serious when he told me not to say anything and I think I should listen 'cause that's what I would do.'
"Hey, Ruby?" her uncle's voice brought her back out of her thoughts. She turned back to face him, making sure she was still wearing a smile. "Not that I want to get rid of you or anything, but can you take me to your dad? I've got a few things to ask him about." Ruby went stock still for a moment, then proceeded to nod her head vigorously, grabbing his hand and leading him upstairs.
"I think Dad is in Yang's room right now. I dunno why but Yang's kinda holed up in there a bunch ever since I came back. Dad stays in there with her sometimes," Ruby said, the smile never faltering. Qrow's features settled somewhere in between anger and pity.
"Alright Rubes, I'm gonna go talk to Tai for a bit. Why don't you go and play outside?" Ruby gave an affirmative nod and skipped back down the stairs, leaving Qrow to his own devices. He grabbed the handle to the door with the "Yang" nameplate and swung it open.
The sight inside caused his heart to constrict in his chest. On the bed was a seven year old Yang, eyes red and puffy. The smell permeating the air led him to conclude that she hadn't actually had a bath in a long time. Her beautiful golden mane, which she typically obsessed over, laid limp and greasy on her back. On the bed, right beside her, sat his former teammate, looking no better than his daughter.
"Hey, Tai. It's been awhile. About ten years, right?" Two pairs of confused eyes stared back at him.
"Qrow, you were here about two months ago."
"Really?" he folded his arms across his chest and stared at Taiyang. "Because you look like you've aged more than that since I last saw you." he stated.
"You know," he continued, "I ran into Ruby downstairs," he commented, not missing the way the blond kept trying to avert his gaze. "Tell me, Tai: What the hell did you do to my niece?"
Taiyang flinched at the barely concealed wrath in his words. "I..." he looked down to find Yang staring back up at him. If he was going to have to explain, he really didn't want her to hear what he did. He didn't want her to learn of his mistakes. She didn't need to know how he had permanently injured her sister. His heart would break if his daughter started to hate him for what he did.
"Yang, please leave the room. I have a couple things to talk to Uncle Qrow about in private." his daughter opened her mouth to respond, but another voice stopped her before she could.
"Come on, Yang. I need Tai to explain a few things to me. It won't take too long, and I'll play with you and Ruby after I'm done here." She didn't look too happy at the idea of spending time with Ruby, Qrow noted, but she gave a hesitant nod and left the room.
When he heard the soft click of the door, he gestured for his friend to speak. "Well, Tai? Explain. Explain why the hell Ruby is acting like- like that!"
With a sigh, he obliged. "Qrow, do you remember telling James about Ruby's aura condition?"
Qrow looked thoughtful, his eyebrows drawing together as he tried to recall what the blond was talking about. "I think I was pretty drunk at the time, but I remember running into Jimmy right outside of a bar in Atlas. Though, what does that have to do anything?" his eyes took on a dangerous glint. "Is Jimmy somehow related to this?"
Taiyang nodded. "He came here with an offer for me. For Ruby." Qrow's expression turned grim. "He said he could do it. That he could suppress her aura. He hadn't tested it before, due to laws and regulations, but he showed me that he had a way to make Ruby normal again."
"And he sure did a great job of that."
"He told me that he genuinely wanted to help me, to help us, and I believed him. I still do; he apologized profusely after he finished the procedure."
"Tai," he began slowly, "What went wrong? What happened to Ruby?"
He seemed to age even more, appearing much to weary for his age, as he spoke his next words.
"I really messed up this time. I knew there was a risk, but I messed up badly, Qrow. I got what I wanted. We were able to get rid of the effect of her semblance. When she opened her eyes, however, we realized just how badly we'd screwed up. She'd never be the same again."
"Qrow, I think that, in the process of suppressing her Semblance, we might've destroyed her soul altogether."