Chapter One
It's not easy watching things fall apart. Taiyang (her new dad) shuts down (finds a bottle some nights) while Yang struggles to keep the household running (struggles not to cry in front of Ruby). And her? Ruby? She clings to her sister and wishes the next person to walk through the door is Summer Rose. Not for herself, but for the family.
Of course, she loves these people. Her new family. But it's easier to love Yang and Tai as they are always here. It's easy to distance from the story of Summer Rose, because she is gone. Because Ruby knew she would be gone. Just like Raven is not here. Just like Qrow does not come visit.
Just like living again is hard (for she was not always Ruby Rose).
Just like she clings to Yang (as the only reason she does not break).
Just like she is afraid to die (again. Forever. Or worse, to forget what is to come).
These are facts, but they have their opposites. All that's left of Summer is a memorial, and Ruby is not convinced until she sees a body, though it may never happen. Raven is not here, but that doesn't mean she isn't watching. Qrow has not come to visit, but he will because Ruby stole her father's phone to contact the uncle and make him promise to come back. Living is hard, but choosing to let go is so much harder now that she remembers doing it. Ruby clings to Yang, and Yang clings to Ruby. Who-is-now Ruby Rose is afraid to die, but will gladly go out with a bang (not a whimper, never softly into the night).
Taxes still suck. No opposite to that. "Y-ah-ng, do you know where food liar-Ns?"
"Do I know where the food lien is?" Yang stresses the words. Ruby huffs and nods (Yang should try learning another language, see how well that goes). Two years apart, and Yang's trying to impress proper grammar even though she doesn't have a full grasp either. At least someone in the household is trying. "Yes, why? We don't need to go shopping soon."
"Do too," Ruby pouts holds up an empty milk jug.
Yang sighs. Ruby almost feels bad at how weary her sister looks. This is important, though. They've run out of healthy foods and the tiniest girl had to chug the milk back in order to get Yang motivated for a trip to town. "Fine. Fine! Go clean up, we leave in five minutes."
"Yay!" Ruby cheers and makes sure to hug and kiss her sister on the way by. "I love you, Yang!"
In a totally platonic way. Someone in the house needs to show care and affection. Ruby gets a noogie for her effort, but that doesn't stop the smiles or laughter spilling from them both. Them against the world. In this case, the small island they live on. Ruby offers to pull the wagon, knowing Yang just humors her and pulls it with her. The grocery staff greet them with smiles, some uncertain them here alone again. This is a pattern most have noticed, but no one says anything to their father. They understand he's grieving and don't butt-in.
(But maybe they should. He teaches today and won't notice the fridge stocked-up. He will take some food the girls make and all-but ignore them unless they initiate conversation. Maybe, a decade from now, both girls would never have remembered this awful time as it is. Maybe they wouldn't remember how Yang learned to cook or how Ruby learned to speak in full sentences. Who-is-now Ruby will remember, though. She will remember, she will love her new father, but she will not forget. This will mark the first of her issues with Remnant's societies and will start her trust problems. This will be why she clings so tightly to Yang, biding her time until she's positive Yang is secure and happy.
Then, Ruby will start the beginning of the end.)
"Oh, make me carry it back," Yang jokes, lugging the wagon while Ruby skips ahead. "When it's all full and heavy. I see what you did, sis."
"I claim nothing!" Ruby cheers, skipping backwards to make a face.
"Hey! Get over here!"
"Never!"
The worry never goes away, but Yang makes everything better. Canon-Ruby is a happy person. A motivational speaker. Someone who sees the best in everyone. Yang makes conforming easy for who-is-now Ruby. Even when the family is torn like this, Ruby can still make her big sister okay, if not happy. One less thing to worry over.
Who she was before Ruby? Well, she wasn't hero material. Lived in peace, with an urge hide away from the world. Who she was had an itch to defend those held close to her heart. A quiet thing. Mousy, nice, lonely. Who she was before was a lot of things she can't be now. Not for the sake of the world. Not for her continued survival. Not for her family.
Still, some things are harder to ignore. Like nightmares of a death. Ruby is a ball on the couch, watching television in the dark of night, attempting not to see her life flash before her eyes. The front door opens silently, and she can't even scrounge energy to do more than bury her head under the blankets. Whoever it is, is ballsy coming into a famous huntsman's home.
"Pipsqueak?" drawls a voice from above. Beyond the comforts and warmth of her blanket. "That you?"
A pause. She muffles out a 'yes'.
"What are you doing up?" the couch sags as her uncle flops into it. He reaches under the covers and grabs her foot. Ruby can't help the small shriek at the cold hand, and she thrashs until her head pops out. He's laughing at her glare. "Does Tai know you're still down here?"
Ruby finally gets her foot back, tucking under the warm blankets again. Her chest is cold at the thought of her father. No, he doesn't know. She wonders if he would care. Ruby shuffles up against her uncle, grunting when she turns back to the television.
"That's not an answer," he scolds as a joke. An arm wraps around her shoulders and pulls her closer and-
(she doesn't mean to)
Ruby flinches at the scent of alcohol on him.
"What's wrong?" Uncle Qrow asks, sharper. Ruby just curls up tighter and does not explain the smell triggered memories. Does not speak a word of how the nightmares make her reminisce and cry. Holds the blanket on her eyes and stays perfectly still. He doesn't let it go and gently forces her head up and free of the blanket shied. "Ruby, why are you crying?"
"I'm sorry," she tries to wipe her eyes, but he catches her hand. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to."
"You don't need to apologize," he hums the words and picks her up. Ruby is deposited on his lap, shaken free of her warm cocoon. "But I can't help you if you don't share with the class."
"A nightmare," Ruby bites out, watching her fingers twist in her lap. Anything to ignore the red eyes paying attention to her. Giving her comfort and reassurance instead of the other way around. She's supposed to be an adult inside. She's supposed to be stronger than this. She's supposed to be Ruby Rose. "Just a nightmare."
"Want to talk about it?" The girl shakes her head. "Well then, why didn't you go bug your dad?"
Ruby tenses and stays silent (tonight was a bottle night). For a huntsman, Taiyang sleeps very soundly.
"Then why not Yang?" Qrow insists. She isn't looking, so she doesn't see the tense lines on his face. "I'm sure she'd protect you from nightmares."
"She needs sleep," Ruby protests.
"She wouldn't mind helping you."
The redhead disagrees. "She needs sleep. She's tired." From looking for Raven. From missing Summer. From doing chores around the house. Ruby does not care if it's her personally losing sleep, but Yang is a growing girl. The blonde needs rest when she can catch it.
Qrow sighs and doesn't push. He shuts off the television and stands, her in his arms. "Then I'll stay for a bit. Keep the bad guys away."
It's the thought that counts. She appreciates the attempt to make her feel safe. Closes her eyes and hides her face in his chest. "Thank you, uncle Qrow." A pause. "I missed you."
He sighs again.
She keeps peeking an eye open, making sure he's there. Not because she's worried he'd break a promise… No… Just, maybe to see how his power works. Does he transform into a bird, or does he swap places with birds?
"Eyes closed," he is smiling when he scolds. Ruby 'eep's and shuts her eyes again. Somewhere in the night, she does finally fall asleep.
Wakes up to an open window. It makes her feel lighter. She takes joys when she can. Doesn't care otherwise.
It takes a few days, and then it happens. Unlike the stories, Ruby is awake. She wants to say 'no', wants to stop the mad words and hide from a Grimm forest. She wants to feel warm. Fear is a cold shock, leaving her pale even as her lips crack into a shaky smile and she says, "Let me grab my coat!"
They are going on an adventure.
Ruby punches in her uncle's phone number in the emergency phone in her father's room, leaving it off the hook and running quietly to her room for a jacket. For something warm. She grabs a scarf, old and from Summer Rose, and wears it as she shouts, "I'm ready, Yang!"
For the first time, Ruby is scared to sit in the wagon. She walks beside Yang for as long as she can. Her big sister tries to shake off the girl's fear first with reassurances, and then with taunts, "It's the forest, Rubes! Nothing to be scared of; especially not the dark!"
"I'm not scared of the dark!" She's scared of what's in it.
She does not fall asleep, knowing what's to come.
She does not ask Yang to stop, knowing her sister is moving through pure determination by now.
There are no sounds of animals. Please come, uncle Qrow.
Ruby sits up when the wagon stops moving. "Yang?"
The handle drops from her sister's grasp. Red eyes stare back from an abandoned building. Ruby doesn't look away as she slowly crawls to her sister. There is a burning behind her eyes, dry and dangerous, that contrasts the cold resolve she now feels. No time for fear, Yang is in danger. "Yang? I think we should go."
Yang is frozen is place as the growling becomes louder.
When the first of the Beowolves steps out of the shadows, Ruby pulls her sister into the wagon. She copies the lead Grimm, baring teeth. The other Grimm howl.
They attack.
"Ruby!"
It's unexpected, Yang pulling her out of the line of attack. Shielding her. As if Ruby is the one in need of protection. The hits never come as a single wing-flap turns into the grinding of metal. Ruby clutches to her sister, both twisting to see their uncle destroying the Grimm with ease.
Keeping the bad guys away. Just like he promised.
"Are you two okay?" Qrow near-shouts as he runs over to them, ignoring the fading carnage around. Yang trembles. Ruby bursts into tears, hugging the older girl tightly. "What are you doing out here?"
Ruby is so relieved an adult kept their word, it restores a little faith in the world. When all is said and done, she does not let Yang take all the blame for this. She does not leave her sister's side. Not even when everything breaks between her uncle and father and they have a yelling match downstairs.
"Don't leave me," begs who-is-now Ruby, holding onto whatever part of Yang she can. A selfish, selfish wish. "Please don't leave me, sis."
"I won't," Yang promises, shaken and vulnerable. She pets her younger sister's hair and kisses the top of her head. "I promise. I won't leave you."
Canon-Ruby is a girl that never experienced the scare. Who was asleep and passed it off as a nightmare. Someone who never bared her teeth at the darkness with promise she would die before it touched the light. The Ruby Rose of the story should never have seen specs of evil so early.
Who-is-now Ruby Rose is not canon. She lives haunted by that fact every day. It means she tries to be someone she is not, and in moments like this it slips to the hunger – the need – for a reason to live. For without one, this world has an easy way to die a hero.
She is prepared to become a villain if needs-must.
What she does not want – what she actively changes after the gong-show that snapped her father out of his fog – is a ruined voice. She asks for vocal lessons, thinking it cannot change the plot any more than her being awake did. Her voice will not squeak constantly, if she has any say in it (this is her new life, after all). It turns out to be the biggest change of all. One thing so different, it defines who-is-now from canon. It allows her to take control over her destiny. For without an undeveloped voice, destroyed from shouting and screams…
Ruby sings.
;;;
Step One to being Ruby Rose: Smile. A lot.
Especially around children. If pretending to be Ruby Rose at a young age, there is allowance for nerves when meeting new people. For the first day of school, smile as long as possible. There is a two year gap between Ruby and Yang, which means the buffer zone lasts until Yang ditches her sister for her own class.
Meanie.
Just a hypothesis, but who-is-now Ruby is pretty sure she screwed up somewhere along the first year of grade school. Might have even confirmed her teacher's worst fear about being just like Yang. The summation of the year gets written down in her first-language diary. 'Good terms with most, friends with none. Class came second place in end-of-year sports competition. Yang's won everything.'
Because she may be short and a first year, but this Ruby Rose has been exercising and working out with her family. She's being trained to survive. Not that she carried the class – well, she did for the speed competitions – but her grade class has more than a few huntsmen's kids. Ruby just stands out, making an impact in the early years with how compassionate and kind she is to others.
Ruby is supposed to be kind, isn't she?
'It's getting harder to remember nowadays.'
"Still writing in that weird language?" Yang asks, making a face at the scribbles. They are words to Ruby, but only big-sis knows that. Just like she convinced Ruby to tell her all the swear words. "You're no fun. Why can't you write normally so I can read it out loud on show-and-tell days?"
"'Exactly that reason.'" Ruby replies.
"Slipped up, sis," Yang says, poking her. Ruby groans, head dropping and banging on the table. "Wow, how many days was that?"
"Eight," she says, miserably.
Because Ruby can't help slipping into her mother tongue, if only to remember. The problem is when it transfers over; when she speaks naturally instead of focusing on what she says. She sings in her first language a lot, and that's how Yang caught on it was not random babble. She tells her big sister stories she dreams of, stories that she only heard in the language. They thought maybe that was her semblance, until Ruby blurred around a fist and wound up crashing into a tree. Not just running, but moving fast. Like the Ruby Rose of story. As she moves, rose petals fall from the air around her body. As though they absorb the sounds and currents she makes while moving so fast. There should be issues for her and those in the drafts. There isn't.
Who-is-now Ruby Rose still has the exact semblance of canon Ruby. It's a relief, but also crushes the hope of not-being Ruby. If things were different, then maybe she could be herself. Maybe she wouldn't have to pretend and make guidelines on how to be a main character.
Maybe she could finally open up about the future to come.
(What if it is all wrong and nothing like the story?)
"Come on," Yang gets tired and picks up her sister. Ruby squeaks and demands to be put down. "Nuh-uh. We've got to get to your voice-thing. I will not be late for my class again."
Voice-acting. Ruby has four voices down-pat, and today they're going over the newest song she has sing over and over because two of the voices duet at a point. The island of Patch is full of artistic jobs, and full of retired huntsmen and huntswomen. The girl jokingly refers to it as Hobby Island. Within the day of her vocals coach suggesting she do a job around here, word had gotten to her father and all that was needed was her agreement to work.
Very stressful moment, that was. Lots of sleep lost that week.
Yang picked up marshal arts classes while Ruby does her voice-acting. "Accent-acting," the older girl jokes on days of voicing multiple characters. "Voice-thing," is reserved from the song albums. Since the show and characters are still pretty new, slowly gaining popularity, Ruby will have sung a total of two songs on the album to be released post-season. When they realized how mature she is, they've begun to use her as a background harmony. It is a lot of work, but she secretly enjoys it. Enjoys being treated like an adult, though she's not even eight yet.
It's very un-canon-Ruby-like. She still jokes, smiles, and plays at being a kid, but it is hard to hide the poles of maturity keeping her on the straight-and-narrow. She is not as curious at canon-Ruby. She is more involved with everyone on the island, yet can barely call anyone outside the family a friend. She is getting paid to speak. She sings.
She can't shake the chocolate addiction. Addiction is too strong a word, but she limits any and all sugar and caffeine she ingests. Those are for special occasions, and emergencies. Her semblance kicked her metabolism into high-gear and sweets are a quick and easy fix. Hold off the caffeine, since she can barely get enough sleep on a good night (it's the most unhealthy thing about her).
Life moves on. Yang graduates to Signal Academy, where both their father and uncle teach. Ruby hums and haws around answering where she wants to go; she still has two more years until graduation. Every time someone asks what she wants to do, Ruby smiles bashfully, looking oh-so shy as she answers, "I want to help people."
It's the closest she can get to saying 'I want to become a huntress' without committing. Tai and Qrow may actually be glad if she doesn't become one. Yang's graduation gift is lessons in whatever fighting style she wants to pursue through school, and a puppy for the family.
Zwei is the cutest (and great company for the long nights awake). Still no idea what underground lab uncle Qrow rescued him from.
;;;
Step Two to being Ruby Rose: The ultimate goal is to become a huntress.
One long night debating pros and cons, concludes that this step is almost as important as step one. What it means without the training is that there is in no way to prepare to defend oneself. The cons can easily be brushed away; who said a person has to use their Huntsmen Licence for good once obtained? There are not any rules stating that to keep the licence, one must go on a set amount of missions. Get the training, get the uber powerful stamp-of-approval, and ta da.
What canon-Ruby strives for is a better world. Happy endings handed out like greeting cards.
What who-is-now Ruby wants are the tools for survival. It is easy to pretend she wants the world to be a better place; it's just words. Feelings are a different matter.
Welcome to Remnant, where every weapon is a gun and there are tangible monsters to fight. The place where the survival instinct to scavenge and hunt was never stamped out and instead turned into a job. A place where there is racism and wars and creatures made to kill humanity, and yet humanity still endures. Where everyday feats of magic are preformed and passed off as a biological factor.
Ruby's urge to defend is almost abnormal in such a world. This place, where everyone wants to fight. Where she would love to flee.
Running away from the big, bad wolves is not allowed. Not if she wants to be a huntswoman.
When it ties in with step three, things become difficult. Huntsmen and huntswomen must fight the creatures of Grimm. Any allowance or running goes against their code. Karma has a bad habit of dragging any Grimm not killed back into the deserter's life.
Yang takes up hand-to-hand fighting with ease. Ruby doesn't struggle with the forms or attack patterns. Her faults lie in hesitation.
"We'll find you something," her dad promises.
"You can't learn every weapon," her uncle groans.
"Then I'll learn the scythe," Ruby smiles charmingly. "You can teach me, right uncle Qrow?"
Never would have thought she'd take-up a two-handed weapon. Her family teaches her how to shoot, and her uncle sees her thrive under his tutelage. It becomes a bonding activity between the four family members, training and building weapons together.
(So do the nights when she's awake downstairs and Qrow comes home a little too tipsy. It's natural to give him the couch, leave a water glass by the table, and move to kitchen to calm her thoughts. Knowing he's back safely, he's guarding the entrance, cuts down her worries. Allows her to sleep easier. Sometimes it leaves her wondering if the only reason he agreed to teach her to wield a scythe is because she never does more than roll her eyes and help him up from a stumble. She leaves behind water and quiet, while Tai gives disproval and Yang needles the habit.)
Using the scythe leaves her no time to hesitate.
(And quietly, who-is-not Ruby jokes morbidly about how she has become the Grimm Reaper.)
;;;
Step Three: Be kind
"Hello," Ruby smiles as she sits next to the new kid. It's odd to get someone half-way through the school year, but it doesn't phase the redhead. What does is the fact no one has approached the new girl for a group. Signal Academy has very few cliques, mainly because everyone here is training towards fighting monsters legally. There are the jocks, who Yang usually hangs out with. The graduating classes, who focus so hard on their studying it's scary. The Arts Students, who don't want to be hunters but have parents retired from the trade. The weapon handlers, where Ruby usually spends time. And the adorable geeks. "I'm Ruby."
"Amythest," the taller girl with small antlers says shortly, hunching over her food. What's even stranger is how none of the Faunus in the school have come up to the girl. They are very good about including and forming supports anywhere in the community on Patch. No one, human or Faunus, allows the discrimination on the island. Ruby can't decide whether that is why canon-Ruby and canon-Yang had to have Blake's ears pointed out (no one hides their differences on Patch) or whether the discrimination is not rooted as it is in Atlas. "What do you want?"
"To eat?" Ruby's smile doesn't falter as she holds up a red apple. "But also, to say hi. We have the same morning classes. I hope this isn't intruding. I'm sorry if I am."
Amythest grunts and swirls a spoon in whatever is in her thermos. "Whatever."
Ruby keeps smiling as she eats. Making sure to swallow, she tries to continue the conversation. "Have you ever had a weapon construction class before? It's my favourite, but I took way too long deciding what I wanted on my first weapon. Professor Fern wouldn't let me put on more than two blades. Probably a good thing, since there wouldn't be any room for the gun trigger with my first design."
Amythest grunts, pushing back her curly, purple hair. She relaxes, listening to the smaller girl babble. Ruby takes it as a win. Plus, she could talk about weapons for hours. This, she shares with canon-Ruby. All the weapons are so simple, yet so complex. And a gun. Can't forget the gun.
Ruby doesn't blink twice when Amythest takes the seat next to her on the other girl's day two at Signal. She just chats about easy things; classes, weather, local news. All the while, keeping an eye out as to why Amythest is so secluded from the rest of their classmates.
It's almost interesting when it backfires, "Why do you have no friends?"
Ruby blinks slowly as the purple haired girl drops next to her at lunch. "What do you mean? I'm friendly with lots of people."
"But not friends," Amythest stresses the word so hard it nearly punches the air.
"I don't know," Ruby shrugs like it's no big deal. Like people aren't scared of her family, or dislike how mature she can sound, or how her constant smiling creeps some people out. "Just never in the cards, I guess."
"What cards?"
"Sorry, obscure metaphor. Means it must have never meant to be."
Amythest grunts but cracks the first smile Ruby's seen from her. "Then we're going to be friends."
"Really?"
"Don't sound so surprised," the antlered girl scoffs and leans back all cool-like. "You're the only person who can talk to me without flinching. Why is that?"
"What do you mean?" honestly confused here.
A long pause. "You're joking." A longer stare. Amythest's smile turns real and she laughs. "Ruby, my semblance is scaring people. It can scare away Grimm. How are you not effected?"
"Really?" Ruby's smile drops into a thoughtful frown. "How does it scare people?"
"Shadows jump in the corner of their eyes when I'm near. Heartbeat picks up when I talk. Sight turns fuzzy the longer they stare at me."
It all sounds like a power someone would have in a campfire-scary-story. "I don't know, maybe my meditation has something to do with it?" Step five, after all. "I mean, I've never tested against someone with a mental or biological semblance, but all the times I try calming my mind should prevent some of that, maybe? And my high-metabolism would probably burn out any small, extra adrenaline."
Amythest is quiet, meeting Ruby's eyes the whole time. The taller girl looks so relieved she isn't affecting her that Ruby wants to give her a hug. In fact, she breaks and asks just that. "Yah, Ruby. It's okay."
(The tears go unmentioned.)
"My dad was a civilian," Amythest admits later. Later, when they've discussed how her semblance works and why it doesn't affect their huntsmen and huntswomen teachers, a few jocks, and Yang. "He left because he couldn't bare to look at me."
Another hug. This is how Ruby gains a best friend, through hugs and an open ear. "You are beautiful, Amythest. You are worth every second it takes to see past your semblance."
And she will say it until her friend believes it.
"Ruby is too nice," Amythest complains to Yang as they double-team her virtual race car. Ruby shouts out the unfairness while the girls high-five. "Just yesterday she made Sulver cry instead of beating her down."
"Oh?" Yang straightens but pretends to be nonchalant. It's not fooling anyone. "What did Sulver do?"
"Talk smack about your uncle." Ruby's best friend is such a narc. Someone in this friendship has to be.
Part of Sulver's gang ends up in the infirmary, and Yang is docked marks for using too much force. Ruby does them a kindness and doesn't destroy their reputation as promising students until a month after they get back. No need to make anyone think Yang accidently crippled them.
;;;
Step Four: Have a symbol
The emblem is easy. Exactly like Summer Rose's flaming rose, except red. Except… the emblem on her is her mother's broach. A silver, flaming rose. The sad truth is that wearing it is the easy part.
Ruby does not know why but having the same sets of clothing is not only common, it is the way most huntsmen and huntswomen go about defining themselves. Everyone's outfits, emblems, and sometimes hair, is made to match their aura colour. The story they are told in school is that by matching your outfit to your aura, it is less likely an enemy will notice when you are vulnerable. The breaking of an aura going unseen. It would make sense, if it was just the hunters doing so. Civilians either match their aura colour or stick to one colour for their entire outfit.
Ruby calls bull on it all. Her adult family members thought she'd grow out of the phase. Yang encourages her to wear reds, oranges, and yellows. Once Ruby has made a couple week's worth of money from her voice-acting and singing jobs, she goes out shopping. By the time she arrives at Signal Academy, her closet is rainbow colour-coded. Nothing is ever worn two days in a row, and never one solid colour.
Amythest supports this by wearing pink scarves every now and then. Yang will try on some purple on her wild days. Tai wants her to be happy, and Qrow's given up trying to offer fashion advice.
It's another reason she's an outcast. Who-is-now Ruby will not give up clothing selections to conform to a handful of colours.
"It's a good thing you're too young to tour," her album producer, Honey, jokes as they come up with cover ideas together. "Picking just one outfit for you to wear each year would be a nightmare."
Honey is great, letting Ruby have a lot more freedom the bigger her fanbase gets. The newest album, Rose Petals, has a lot of songs she's shamelessly ripped off and translated from her before life. Ruby refuses to be photographed for her albums, leaving the songstress 'Red' a mystery to the world.
Accents to her voice are wonderful. Harder than the emblem but helps her be untraceable. This way, the changes she makes in the world aren't spectacular. Barely noticeable. Should have zero impact on the future.
A way to separate herself from canon.
Because her baby - Crescent Rose - and her mother's emblem still make her twitchy. The curse of Cassandra holds her tongue with no proof on how close to the plot-line this life follows. Her name is Ruby Rose, and she is supposed to be a symbol of light in the darkness.
(Do you believe in destiny?)
;;;
Step Five to being Ruby: Have Silver Eyes
Meditation starts after a couple days of little-to-no sleep. This, she realizes early on, is more than just unhealthy. It's crippling if she cannot get the insomnia under control. Her brain will shut down and leave her in a coma if she is lucky. This also excludes how vulnerable she is since aura applications do not come naturally. It's a constant thought for her, not in-grained like all people with active auras have. So, as tired as she is, her aura shields flicker and the family notices. They don't know the full extent.
How she crawls next to Yang only when she is positive she can fall back to sleep.
How some nights she can't bring herself to lay down.
So, meditation. Sorting through racing thoughts and becoming in-tune with one's self. Very useful when she's discorded about who she should be vs. who she is. This is how she reaches deep in herself and feels the raw burning power. How it comes to the surface and- her eyes, they burn!
Ruby doesn't claw at her face, but it is a close thing. She passes out on her bed, exhausted by whatever that was. Wakes up feeling sore but refreshed for the first time in days. Waits a couple long nights before trying again.
This time, there is a split second of blinding white light in the form of who she was, sitting across from her. They are gone from one blink to the next, but the image is burned into her mind.
The next time, the child form of who she was lasts a few seconds. The next, a few more.
"Can you tone down the light?" Ruby asks, aghast as soon as they appear the next time. The light vanishes completely, leaving a black void of defining features. "Fifty-percent?"
A medium grey light comes from them. At ten seconds, Ruby blinks. The form flickers out, and then back into existence when her eyes open. Total of twelve seconds before she's too tired to keep the power burning throughout her body.
When she has more stamina, she has conversations with herself. "So, are you a separate entity," she holds out one hand, "or a part of me?" Or both, goes implied.
They point to the second hand.
"Well, that makes things easier," Ruby and her before self share a smile. "So, you know what I want." The body that mixes black void and white light is flat-faced, but she knows the look. She used to wear it before. "And will do it."
No question. Thoughts and goals are the same.
"Will you be more like who I was?"
They shake their head. Point to her, point to themselves, point to the mirror. Ruby has long-gotten used to her eye-colour changing in response to the light-being changing intensity. White and black swirl in her irises.
They are a reflection of her, as she reflects their status.
"Why a child?"
Same answer. They reflect her.
And Ruby, who never figured out what the silver eyes could do in her first life, pretends this is normal and builds up her stamina. Which means she can go longer without sleep. A vicious, unending cycle.
At least her eyes are always silver when the power is tucked back inside her.
;;;
Step Six: Do the right thing, not the cool thing
If she were being honest, there isn't much to see in Vale besides the hunter-training school. It can be seen from wherever a person stands in the city, as a Beacon (she giggles every time). They have more variety of dust then Patch, more variety of a lot of things, but that's because it's a big city. Ruby comes for books, weapon parts, and gifts. The food is good too, but she limits herself to three unhealthy snacks a month, including any caffeine products. They do sell the gross calorie bars she needs cheaper, but it's not worth taking an airship over.
When she becomes fifteen, Ruby limits her time going to Vale. No need to take chances. Besides, she's busy with school, training, and singing. With night-time fights against herself or reading all the stories she can. Song writing, homework, and family time. Making sure everyone comes home safely and having fun with Amythest.
Ruby agrees to go with Yang to Vale. She may not like driving, but Yang makes ridding on bumblebee an experience. Too bad her sister ditched her in the city. Their ride home leaves in a couple hours, and Ruby's hunkered down reading magazines in a dust shop. Silently fuming and debating marching over to Junior's club in the off-chance the Yellow Trailer is in progress.
She doesn't think twice about putting on headphones and listening to music. That's a daily occurrence, and she likes the familiarity of some songs. Even if it is her voice singing them.
She slides down the wall, getting comfortable while keeping an eye on the entrances and exits to the row. Reads.
Is too far down to see Roman Torchwick come in, but alert enough to send the goon flying through the air when he tries to loom over her.
Somehow, she survives the Opening (kicks up a dust crystal and disrupts the airship so much Roman almost falls out). Wonders why this is happening because she surely hasn't done the Red Trailer. Forms a hero-crush on Glynda Goodwitch.
Gets taken in for questioning. Then they send in Huntress Goodwitch, like they assume the scolding she'll give is enough to cause Ruby regrets. The woman is scary, but all of it was self defence. The guy trying to rob the store, the fight in the street, Roman Torchwick throwing a stick of dust with the intention of blowing her up. Ruby smiles pleasantly, having already told all of this to the authorities. The only thing she cares about is that Yang never finds out about this incident.
She flinches when the riding crop hits the interrogation table.
"There's someone here who would like to meet you," Glynda says, both very annoyed and resigned.
And just-
"Eep!" Ruby clutches her stomach to hide the noise it makes, her eyes zeroed in on the cookies. "Sorry!"
The man places the plate of cookies on the table. "Ruby Rose." Her eyes flicker up to his and whoa man, personal space. "You have silver eyes."
Her stomach rumbles when she attempts to lean back in the chair. Wow, this is embarrassing.
Brown eyes blink and he leans back, serious. "So," he notices her attention on the data pad in Glynda''s hands, playing security feeds, "where did you learn to do this?"
Nope. She is not ready for any of this. "S-Signal Academy?"
"They taught you to use one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed?"
Deep breath. Abort mission, play it cool. "Well, yah? Sadly, Crescent Rose isn't the most dangerous; I wasn't allowed to make anything on it detach into a smaller weapon."
Not cool.
Also, feels like stomach is trying to eat itself.
The silence stretches for a bit.
"It's just that I've only seen one scythe wielder of that skill before." He's not fooling anyone when he looks to the ceiling. "A dust, old Qrow."
"That would be my uncle Qrow," Ruby folds her hands, eyes skipping over to the cookies in a lapse of concentration. "He's a teacher at Signal. Honestly? He's the only reason I'm any good."
The man hums. "You can have the cookies, you know."
"Oh, thank you," she yanks the plate over and bites down on one. Not drugged. Yay.
"So," their eyes are locked, and she doesn't look away, even as she demolishes another cookie, even as he sits across from her, "what is an adorable girl such as yourself doing at school designed to train warriors?"
Cute, who-is-now Ruby thinks dryly, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I want to be a huntress."
She wonders if he picks up on offense (she's short, not adorable). Hopefully not. And she isn't awed by seeing the professionals. Not when Patch is full of them.
"You want to slay monsters?"
"That's just a bonus," Ruby grins cheekily. Catches both adults by surprise. "I wanna help people. Sure, the police force is nice but like you implied, I'm not intimidating. And my semblance makes me more of a problem for any kind of firefighting or emergency response, cause I drop rose petals. Vigilantism is alright I guess, but why not make a career out of it if I can, right? And my family is filled with hunters and huntresses so I was raised to help others, and they can do things like teach me how to wield a scythe."
A pause.
"My sister is going to your school, sir," Ruby tries to smile through the awkward. Glynda looks very much not impressed, but Ozpin is smiling a little. "It's very nice to meet you. And, um, sorry for the property damage I caused."
"That's alright," he hums again. "Glynda fixed it all." The power of that woman's glare should be melting them both where they sit. "Do you have plans to come to my school like your sister?"
"Yes," she straightens the best she can. Today is a blue blouse, purple cut-offs day and she feels so small not wearing colours in her aura range. Like this is improper for such a meeting. "I have two more years until I graduate, and I plan to apply as soon as I can."
He really is smiling when he turns to Glynda. She rolls her eyes and flicks through the pad. The headmaster of Beacon Academy turns to the girl across from him. "Would you like to come now?"
Just because it's expected, doesn't make it any less shocking. Who-is-now Ruby looks between the two. "You're… not joking."
"I am very serious," Ozpin tells her, smile gone. "Would you like to come to my school this year?"
No matter how much she tries, the word 'yes' can't be forced past her lips. She shallows hard and tries something different. More reasonable, less instant reaction. "I would, but… I'll be two years behind everyone else. If this is some kind of scholarship, I'm not sure I'll be able to keep it up."
"It's not a scholarship," Glynda answers, placing the data pad on the table and- are those her school files? "You've completed all the requirements to graduate, have all the recommendations and volunteering hours, though the stunt you pulled tonight would have been more than enough proof to let you in on combat ability."
She heard the entrance combat test was easy, but really? The only reason Torchwick got away is because Ruby never fired a shot at the helicopter, so no risk of it crashing.
"You would be able to catch up in anything you miss," Professor Ozpin says, an eyebrow raised at the sight of her files. All her core classes are finished, for every year. "There are extra study sessions for students in positions like yours. I do not believe you would have any problems starting this year, though."
"I… do have a job." The adults pin her with a look. Glynda a little impressed while Ozpin is interested. "I do some voice acting and singing. I wasn't planning on continuing once I graduated, but I do still have a contract for another couple months. Is that alright? It's just recordings, so I don't need to leave the school!"
"I'm sure we can help you work around it," Ozpin says smoothly. "May I ask why you have a job so young?"
"Crescent Rose wasn't a cheap make," Ruby chuckles a bit. "And then there was the dust, and clothing, and, well, everything. Signal students don't have a large budget, so I made sure I had a way to earn money." Royalties are beautiful. Not enough to live luxury (yet) but enough to never have to worry about starving, even with her appetite. "But I can balance school and work! I promise!"
"Very well," Glynda huffs, but there's a hint of smile. Finally.
"Then it's settled." Ozpin smiles warmly and gets up. "We'll see you in a few weeks, Ms. Rose."
"The forms will be mailed to you. Please fill them out before the end of the week."
"Thank you!"
Oh no.
How is she going to explain this to her dad?
How is she going to explain this to uncle Qrow?
And where is Yang? Their ship leaves in half an hour!
;;;
(Step ̧͓̗ͯ̊̂͝͞Z̺̏̀̕̕͡ę̍ͬͬ͏̰̝͙̻̜̖̙̭͘ͅr̴̈́̐̊ͤ̉̿ͨ̃͏̮͎͈͙̺͙ò͇̰̝̜̙͚͚ͫ̀ͮ͒̓̎: Have an active aura
Self explanatory)
Disclaimer: I have no claim to RWBY. All rights belong to their respective owners.
A/N: What started out as writing a Rose Garden one-shot devolved into this.
(I have so many other things to be doing.)
((No idea whether this will follow a timeline or jump around.))
Thanks for reading