Chapter 1:
The morning in Downtown Vale was same as always. People going about opening shops, people buying from the shops, people doing morning exercises or whatever others did in the morning.
Lie Ren yawned as he sat on the bench. Both teams RWBY and JNPR had decided to spend this particular weekend morning together as a clique outing. Everyone felt it was a good way to kick back, relax and enjoy one another's company. He thought it was a good idea too when Jaune suggested it.
Then came the part where they had to wake up at seven in the morning.
Ren supported his head with his hands, eyeing all the groceries he had bought. To be honest, it was a good way for him to stock up on some of JNPR's dwindling food stores. He had already gotten everything on his list and he figured he wouldn't need to shop for about a week now.
He also figured now would be a good time to catch up on some lost shuteye. He felt his eyelids start to fall. The world seemed a blur now. Was he really this tired? He made a mental note to object to any plan that involved such early waking hours, no matter how many agreed to it.
"REEEEEEEEN!"
Ren's eyes snapped open. He groaned, recognizing Nora's voice instantly. Cocking his head to the left, he saw his partner running up with the ever same cheerful grin. Ren gave a tired smile, waving his hand in greeting. She waved back effortlessly considering the bag containing a huge amount of syrup, candy and other sugar related confectionaries she carried in the same hand.
One thing he did like about his teammates and their pals in RWBY was that the entirety of them were a curious bundle of contradictions. The excitable Ruby Rose was paired with the serious Weiss Schnee. The same could be said for the explosively outright Yang Xiao Long and the soft spoken Blake Belladonna. Jaune Arc and Pyrrha Nikos could not be any more opposite than they already were in their current state as warriors. As for him and Nora, well, everyone knew.
Everyone in team RWBY and JNPR knew about the feelings he had for his closest friend. Many wouldn't at first glance. He would always appear cool headed and composed while Nora kept true to her not-a-care-in-the-world perspective on things. The fact that he had decided not to tell her about it was not because he was afraid of rejection.
But when you have a friend who is that happy-go-lucky on any day whether rain or shine, you have to wonder what sort of joyous atomic bomb would go off if she knew someone had the heartthrobs for her.
"Hi Nora. What is all that?" He asked as soon as she came up to him.
Nora beamed, hefting up the huge amount of food-basically sugar-she was carrying. "Just some light refreshments."
"This is light?" He wondered.
"Well, I was kinda thinking of saving a jar for breakfast, another for lunch, one more for dinner and one more for supper. But I don't mind sharing if you want it!" She ended her sentence with a bright, toothy smile.
Ren couldn't think of actually chugging down that much sugar in a single meal. He also thought where Nora would put all of that. Plus, he wondered how well he'd sleep with that much in his body.
"C'mon Nora. Let's go find the others." He said, grabbing his groceries and standing up.
Ruby flipped through the magazine, her eyes flicking through the different weapon designs that were featured in this month's article. She paused on a sword that could fire off lightning bolts, something which she found lethally self-destructive but also impressively cool.
The Downtown Library definitely saw its fair share of customers, but none like the 6 teens who had walked through this morning. Although each one had a different liking or preference for the wide selections available, they definitely stood out among all of its patrons.
Blake was reading some strange fantasy novel that Ruby hadn't seen before. She was definitely getting a copy from a bookstore soon. Blake had a very exquisite taste in written literature. Whatever she found an interest in, Ruby herself would be interested.
Weiss was reading through some history book, which was a bit of a surprise. Ruby knew the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, who is also her partner, as one of the most intelligent people she had ever known. But then, she couldn't imagine Weiss doing anything else.
Pyrrha and Jaune were hunched over a bunch of sports magazines. Ruby made a quiet giggle. The two of them had been getting closer and closer now, and not just in combat class. They would be seated next to each other in Professor Oobleck's history classes, partnering up even in combat classes and having regular meals together in the cafeteria. It was only a matter of time before someone would find a way to help them tie their knot.
Ruby stared at the particular someone, none other than her sister. Yang had finished going through the music magazine, namely the article featuring the hit boy-band, the Achieve Men. Once that was done, the blonde haired girl had resorted to sitting back in the comfy armchair and, seconds later, fell asleep. Her snores were just quiet enough to not disturb the peace and quiet of the place.
Soon enough, that was going to change.
Ruby mischievously eyed the daisy that was within her reach. She grabbed it, her motion catching the attention of Weiss and Blake. Their eyes darted from the flower and then to Yang. Blake stared back down at her book, trying her best to look composed. Weiss's hand had become a horizontal line across her neck and she waved it back and forth, trying to convince the girl to stop. Somewhere deep down, Weiss knew that it'd never work.
Ruby exhaled forcefully, the daisy's pollen sifting through the air and nestled on Yang's nose.
The resulting volley of sneezes caught everyone except for the members of team RWBY off-guard. Jaune and Pyrrha looked up at Yang along with the other library guests. Ruby couldn't help but snicker before bursting out into full blown laughter. Blake was silently giggling in a corner while Weiss had buried her face in her hands.
Yang blinked for a few instances before looking at Ruby. A playful smile crossed the girl's face. Lifting her index finger, she wagged it at Ruby before clenching her right fist and smacking together with her left. Ruby smirked, acknowledging Yang's challenge. No way was her sister going to let her get one up.
The librarian had now come forward to the small bunch. "I advise you to maintain the silence of the library. Otherwise, please leave."
Ruby's eyes darted to the door where she noticed Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie. "It's okay miss." She said. "We have to go anyway."
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?" Weiss's voice went up an octave as she chided Ruby.
"C'mon Weiss." Ruby giggled. "It was just honest fun."
"Well, the next time you want to have some 'honest fun'..." Weiss raised her hands and quoting the last two words with her fingers. "Could you try to do it in a place where we wouldn't become seen as a bunch of boisterous buffoons?"
"Chill out Weiss..." Ruby said in an effort to calm her down.
"Ugh, you are still such a child!" Weiss groaned. "Even after everything we've been through!"
"Okay, okay." Ruby sighed. "I'm sorry about it."
Weiss looked into her partner's eyes. They were full of innocence and sincerity. Exhaling a long sigh, Weiss nodded. "Well, fine. I suppose this isn't so extraordinary considering it is you. But I swear Ruby, the next time you get into trouble with some library staff, I am so not sticking up for you."
"Hehe..." Ruby chuckled softly. "You got it."
Weiss shook her head, a small smile spreading across her face. Despite everything she could pull off, Weiss knew how dependable Ruby could be. True, she was young, more inexperienced than herself and perhaps a lunatic, but she was also someone you could count on to do something.
She couldn't remember the number of times Ruby had kept herself awake on weekday nights just to revise through something in a class. Countless times, their leader had also come up with incredibly reckless plans that actually worked out in the end. Weiss briefly remembered their encounter with the Nevermore. Ruby's plan looked so crazy at first glance. All of that was dispelled the minute she had sliced the massive Grimm's head off.
Behind them, Nora was already trying to say 'Bunch of Boisterous Buffoons' as quickly as possible with Ren trailing slightly behind. Yang looked composed, but Weiss knew too well she was already concocting a retaliation plan on her little sister. The smug look on her face said it all.
Weiss groaned inwardly. There was going to be another war in their small dormitory at Beacon. She stared at Blake, who met her gaze with the same look. They'd be keeping a wide berth of Ruby and Yang for a while now. Thankfully, it was easy to see when the battle had ended. Last time, Blake and Weiss had stood on the sidelines for two whole weeks before the victimized of the two sisters made her move on the other. But considering it was Yang, she expected it to last only a week at max. That girl had a pension for the most quick-witted schemes.
"What the hell happened here?" Came Jaune's voice. Team RWBY spun around to see what had caught Jaune's attention.
A Dust shop was surrounded by at least four policemen. The shop's window was broken apart and the door was off its hinges. The inside of the place was far worse. Vials of Dust lay broken across the floor. Shelves were turned over and small droplets of what Weiss had to deduce were bloodstains marked certain sections of the floor.
Team RWBY and JNPR moved in for a closer look. Blake looked especially distressed.
"Robbery?" Pyrrha asked one of the officers.
He nodded, pushing up his glasses. "Yup. Quite a mess."
"How messy?" Ruby asked. She took quick glances at Weiss and Blake. The last time they had been at the scene of a Dust shop robbery, Blake and Weiss's friendships were put to the test. Shortly after that, Blake had run off for two whole days and Weiss didn't seem all that intent in speaking to her ever again.
"Well," The officer answered. "Three people injured, including the shopkeeper."
Weiss took a peek at Blake, hoping the Faunus girl wasn't looking back. She saw something in Blake's eyes that shocked her.
Blake was angry.
Not just any kind of angry. She looked furious, even murderous. Blake rarely flared up at crimes committed by the White Fang. Often it was just a disdainful stare or a shake of the head. So what now?
"Took all the money. All the Dust." The officer carried on saying. "We think it's the White Fang, so it's probably Torchwick too. But none of us have seen him for a while now."
"I see." Pyrrha frowned. "Well, all the best officer!"
"Much appreciated miss. If you hear anything, let us know ok?"
The eight students turned and walked away, a tense atmosphere between each of them. Most noticeable was Blake's.
"Blake," Weiss began. "I know how you feel about them, but this can't stay unanswered. They injured civilians this time! Can you actually defend them now after all this?"
All of them turned to the Faunus girl. Since that incident months ago, Blake had opened up about her Faunus heritage and history with the White Fang, though it still needed time to spread through the rest of Beacon's student body. Everyone of them hoped Blake would speak about this at least to the police.
But Blake remained silent. The only thing that could be faintly heard was the cracking of her knuckles as she clenched her fist.
"Take it easy Weiss." Yang said, standing in front of her with her palms out. "You know how tough this has to be for her."
"Besides, consider the evidence." Jaune said. "It wasn't just Dust, they took money too. I heard from you guys that Torchwick guy only hit the Dust. And he works with the White Fang. This just doesn't add up now."
"I do! Really!" Weiss exclaimed. "But this is a little too-"
"It's not the White Fang. I know it." Blake spoke suddenly. Once again, everyone craned their heads to her.
"How?" Weiss asked, a little doubtful.
"Because I have seen this before." Blake turned, her eyes cold with some sort of black hate.
"Blake..." Yang blinked, evidently shocked. No one had ever seen her this way.
"Who did it then?" Weiss asked, treading softly.
Blake looked at them, taking a few deep breaths to compose herself before she said the name.
As she said it, it felt as if she spat it out with disgust.
"Mane. Ripper Mane."
He licked the blood off his fingers as he reached to take his phone out of his pocket. No matter what, he liked seeing the chaos he wrecked. It made him feel good. It made him feel like he accomplished something.
Then, his eyes darted to the bunch of teenagers that had dropped by. Instantly, he recognized two things.
The first was the girl who wore a black bow on her head. He scowled, baring his fangs.
Well, well, look who went and got herself adopted. You and I have words for another day Blakey.
Almost instantly, he noticed the second thing. The girl with white hair pulled to one side. But it wasn't the girl, it was the symbol on the back of her bolero. The symbol of a snowflake.
He grinned. Why hello there Ms Schnee. You and I are gonna have so much fun together.