Roman couldn't believe it Ruby was trying to fight the White Fang. Neo looked at Ruby, asking "Why have you been fighting the White Fang?" Ruby sighed as she couldn't meet Neo's eyes "They are a group of faunus that are killing innocent people. I didn't get too far though." Ruby went on to explain how the fight between her and Adam went. "And that's why I have this scar now." Ruby concluded as she gestured towards her chest.
"So that was from him then. I'm going to kill him." Roman seethed Ruby looked mortified. "Please don't! I wasn't able to do much against him. He knocked me off balance and then used his semblance, some sort of ultimate cutting semblance. Went right through me…" Left unsaid was what such a person could do to Roman.
Roman sighed "Ruby if you keep this up, you will end up dead. I can't just heal everything that gets through your aura. So please tell us why you do what you do." Ruby looked down and let a few tears fall down her face.
"I was beaten most of my childhood by the family I was staying with. I was thrown out of the house. The two people that did this was…..- Ruby stopped talking and let more tears fall down her face. "Their names were Taiyang Xiao Long and Yang Xiao Long."
Neo and Roman looked absolutely disgusted. "How could anyone do that to you. Your adorable, what kind of monster would do that." Asked Roman.
Ruby looked sad and was trying to hold back more tears "I-I don't know. Everyone was so mean to me other then you two." Ruby continued her story after saying that.
"I had to learn how to use a weapon at the age of six. When I was seven. I was grabbed off the street and was tortured for seven years straight for no reason, then after I finally escaped I went looking for help from my Aunt and she…. She-" Ruby coughed on a sob and she swallowed hard. Neo moved closer to Ruby and let her rest her head on her shoulder. She breathed in and out raggedly "She didn't help. She tried to break me and it worked partly Raven tore out my innocence. Now I am a shell of the girl I used to be."
"Is that why you're fighting the White Fang?" Roman asked and Ruby nods. "I always wanted to be a huntress like my birth parents but I never got to because of what I was. I was beaten, cursed at and I was almost raped multiple times just for what I was. I… I don't know how else to do this. Fighting is all I'm good at." Ruby finally couldn't take it anymore and put her face into Neo's chest and cried her heart out. Neo held Ruby but what Ruby was unaware of was that Roman and Neo found out that Ruby was far more broken then they ever thought.
Eventually Ruby cried herself to sleep. Neo put Ruby under the covers and watched her sleep. After a few seconds she looked at Roman "She's more broken then I first thought." "Yeah, she is but we can help her Neo. She just opened up and we can get her to trust us."
1 year and 2 months later
It has been almost a year since Ruby revealed her truth to Roman and Neo. They had managed to get her to back off the White Fang, however that left Ruby with only one thing left: find her parents, or what was left of them. Ruby was searching for them after she had fully healed. She was searching for a good amount of time but finally decided to search more dangerous areas. She was currently searching through a forest and a very dangerous one at that. Ruby kept her hand on the grip of Twisted Fate so if something attacked her she could counter quickly.
She was wandering around until she heard a grunt of pain and the sound of a snarling Grimm. Ruby then heard someone say "Damn I got separated from the others." Ruby sprang into action and followed the voice. She came to see a young man with long black hair tied into a ponytail that ends midway down his back. He also had a magenta streak on the left side of his hair with eyes to match it.
He is currently wearing a dark green, diagonally-buttoned, long-sleeved tailcoat that is red on the inside, with black and gold trimming and pink cuffs. The trimming goes down the right side of his torso and forms a black collar. He wears a black, long-sleeved shirt beneath the suit and light-tan pants with black shoes. However his knee has a gash on it and the left side of his stomach has a pretty big gash on it, his right hand holding the wound. He was holding a weapon in his left hand it looked like a pistol with a sickle-like blade attached vertically under the barrel. The other one that was supposed to be in his right hand was on the floor by his right foot. 'His clothing appears to be influenced by Mistralian culture… wonder what he's doing in Vale' Ruby thinks. A beowulf goes to attack the boy but Ruby dashed in front of the boy and cuts it's head off. "Are you okay?" The young man looked at her 'Is that the Grim Reaper? It likely is but she doesn't attack anyone other than criminals. So she's here to save me.' He thinks but proceeded to nod to her question. "What's your name?" Ruby asked and holding Twisted Fate. The young man looked like he was consider if he should tell her.
After a few minutes he concluded that it wouldn't hurt to do so. "My name is Lie Ren." Ren said. "Ruby Rose-Ravens." Ruby dashed forward and slashes a beowulf in half. Ruby then turned around and slayed the other beowulf behind Ren. Despite this, Ren takes a hit due to the number of beowulfs attacking him, falling to his knees. Ruby helped Ren up and was about to use her semblance but a Grimm slashed her back and she stumbled forward, hissing in pain. She used her magic and teleported the two over to her safe house near the forest. Ruby appeared in the living room and proceeded to fall on the floor, dragging Ren with her. "Sorry" Ruby grunted. "It's fine, thanks for saving me." Ren replied kindly.
Ruby slowly pushes herself off the floor in agonizing pain and sweat is dripping off her face. After Ruby was finally back on her feet, she helped Ren up and brought him to the spare bedroom. Ruby sat Ren down on the bed in the room. "I'll be right back going to get my medkit to take care of your wounds." Ren nods and Ruby walks out of the room. Taking a hard right out the bedroom door, she headed to the upstairs bathroom and snagged the Medkit from the closet there. Ruby headed back downstairs at speed, before walking back into the room and placed the Medkit on the bed. Glancing at Ren, she asked "Can you take off your shirt so I can treat the wound?" Ren nods and takes his top off to let Ruby look at the wound on the left side of his stomach.
She was working on Ren's injuries for around three hours. She just finished putting bandages on the wounds in case the wound reopened and looked to see Ren still awake. "Do you know how to stitch wounds?" A silent nod. "Can you stitch the wound on my back?" Ren agreed and took off her cloak and proceeded to take off her shirt and laid chest-down on her bed, not thinking twice about modesty in the face of injury. Ren cringed at the old scars on her back, but focused on the new wound for now. He would try to think of a way to ask about them later.
It took Ren a good two hours to stitch the wound and a bit of screaming on Ruby's part from the pain, unwilling to use painkillers with a stranger around. Ruby went to put her corset back on however before she could put her corset back on Ren asked "What happened to your back? I doubt that was done by Grimm." Ruby swallowed and looked at Ren. "I'm sorry but I Don't really trust you enough to tell you. Once I get to know you more then I'll tell you."
Ren looked over her facial expression and saw Ruby was hurting. Someone who looked 17 was already dead on the inside. Reality had hurt this girl too much. "Very well, how long do you want me here for?" Ruby continued to put her corset on and said "You can as long as you want or until you heal. Depends on you." Ren nods.
2 weeks later
Ren stayed with Ruby for two weeks now. Ruby was kind to him but still didn't want to talk about her past. Ren was okay with that but he simply want to help the person that saved him.
"I am likely going to need to return to my team soon, they know I'm safe but I've run out of excuses for not returning." Ruby looked a little sad "Already? It gets lonely out here, do you know if we see each other again?" Ren considered it. If he spent more time with her then maybe she would tell him what was bothering her so badly.
"I can't say Ruby but I could leave my team every so often to come see you." Ren said. Ruby looked happy. "Thank you but do you want the number to my scroll?" "Sure." Ruby gave Ren her contact details. Ren entered the information into his scroll. He then went to the door of Ruby's house and opened the door before pausing and looking back. He gave Ruby a wave, which was returned and with that Ren left the house.
1 month and 2 weeks later
It had been one month and two weeks since Ren left the first time, but like Ren said he would try to see her. And so he came, checked in on his friend. Asked how Ruby was doing. She was fine. She finally had someone to call a friend. That alone made her feel better, even when Ren wasn't around.
Ruby didn't know if she should tell Ren about her past but maybe he could help her. She had to see if he was trustworthy thought. Ren returned after another two week Ren could see the hurt in Ruby's eyes so he agreed to give her time. They had plenty of it.
Ruby found comfort in Ren presence she started to believe she could trust him.
4 months later
Ren finally came back after his last visit. That was a month ago. She decides to tell him today. "Hey Ren I am ready to tell you." Ruby swallowed hard trying to hold herself back from crying. Ruby motioned Ren to follow her. The two walked into the living room, where two couches could be found, one two seater and one for three people along with a comfy chair. There was also a table in the center of the room in the middle of the couches. Ruby sat down on the two seater. Ren thought about where he should sit but came to the conclusion to sit next to Ruby because she may break down on such a heavy subject. She may need someone to lean on.
So Ren sat down next to Ruby. Ren then looked at Ruby. "Take your time Ruby I have all day today."
Ruby looked happy but at the same time confused. "You normally don't have all day. What happened?"
Ren smiled and began his story.
Flashback yesterday Ren's Pov
Ren was going through his notes for Grimm Studies, though he was in history at the time. It had been a month since he seen Ruby and he felt bad. Ren was her only friend, he knew that much. His musing was cut short when Doctor Oobleck called on him. "Yes, Doctor Oobleck?" "Headmaster Ozpin would like to see you. The announcement called you but you seemed so into your studies that you didn't hear it." Ren nods and got out of his seat. He then leaves the classroom and went to see Ozpin, wondering what this is about.
Ren knocked on Ozpin's door and waited for an answer, still unsure of the situation. It was a minute until he heard "Come in." Ren opened the door and walked into the room. "You wanted to see me Headmaster Ozpin?" Ozpin looked at Ren and could easily see that something was bothering him. "Yes thank you Ren however we have a few questions for you."
Ren nods "What are these questions you have for me?" "Firstly, where have you been going every so often?" Ren looked at away "To see a friend." "It interests me that you need to keep that a secret from your Team." "They don't really need to know about this friend and besides this friend didn't want me to tell my Team. I understood why." Ozpin nods "Lastly, is you not being allowed to see him or her the reason you look so down?"
"Yes, I promised her that I would try to visit every two weeks but I haven't been able to see her for over a month now. I have been so busy with schoolwork." Ozpin looked interested. "Can I have her name?" "I shouldn't… but… it's Ruby." now Ozpin needed to know more.
"Last name?" Ren really didn't to tell Ozpin about Ruby anymore. "Sorry, I can't say that when I don't know how much she would want me to say." Ozpin was disappointed "I have been looking for some that had the name Ruby."
Ren looked at him. "Can you give me a description of her?" "from what the person who asked me to look for her. She is very kind, energetic towards everyone and happy. Could make anyone smile." Ren was already shaking his head.
"The Ruby I know is nothing like that. Don't get me wrong she is kind but she is practically emotionless from the looks of her." Ozpin just barely failed to hide is disappointment, but it was a valiant effort nonetheless. "Well since you miss her so much you may take a day off from school to see her. I will tell your team and your teachers."
Flashback end
"That's how it went." Ren concluded his story. Ruby nods and looked at Ren her eyes gave the silent question 'Are you ready?' Ren nods. After a few seconds Ruby begins her story. Her tragic life. A good hour later Ren was in absolute fury. 'Yang did this to her? Yang?! ' Ren yelled in his mind.
Just then Ruby gets a call on her scroll. Ruby took her scroll out to see it's a call from Neo. "Hang on I am getting a call from my big sister." Ren nods and Ruby answers the call. "Hey Neo."
"Hey, little red. I need you to come home. Roman and I need to speak to you asap." Neo cheerfully said. "Alright Neo." With that Ruby hung up. "I need to head out, Ren, my brother and sister need to speak to me." "Alright I'll see you later Ruby." Ren left and Ruby used Shadowstep to bring herself to Neo and Roman.
Ruby appeared back in Roman's apartment. Then went into the living room. To find Roman and Neo sitting on the couch waiting for her. Ruby sat across from them.
Neo looked at Ruby. "Would you be willing to try being a Huntress if Roman and I got you into Beacon?" Ruby looked happy for the first time since Roman and Neo found her. "You would do that for me?" Roman smiled wholeheartedly "Of course Red. I'm still thought of as a criminal. So I could try to rob a dust store and you could be there and stop me, however Red, I want Neo there with you. Couldn't stand letting anything happen to you."
Neo agreed "I'll be there to protect you my little rose." "Thanks Neo."
After all the processes were done Neo and Ruby went to the dust shop Roman was going to rob with some of Junior's men.
Roman went into the dust shop with some of Juniors men, 7 to be exact. Roman looked excited "Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a dust shop open this late at night." The shop owner looked terrified "Just take my lien and leave."
"I'm not here for your lien." Looking at Junior's men Roman says "get the dust and deal with Red and Ice cream over there." 'Yeah, they are so screwed. Neo and Ruby are going to kick their asses.' Roman thinks
The men go collect the dust well two of the other men go over to Ruby and Neo.
The first grunt says "Alright kids hands in the air."
Ruby however wasn't even paying attention. Neo tapped Ruby's shoulder and Ruby looked at Neo and Neo pointed at the man. Ruby put the magazine she was reading and looked at man with her cold Silver eyes "What do you want?" The grunt looked pretty ticked off "You looking for a death wish. I said Put your hands up where I can see them!"
Neo didn't look amused "Are you trying to rob us?" The second grunt said "Yes."
Ruby pulled out Twisted Fate, keeping it sheathed though as she swung it at the first grunt. The sheath connected with his head and sent him flying out through the window.
Neo made quick work of the second grunt bashing his head with her umbrella. The Neo and Ruby jumped out the window after the one Ruby knocked through the window. Roman turned to the too the window to see two young girls "Oookay." Looking at the rest of the grunts as they did nothing but look at them dumbfounded. "Well, get them." Roman was not too pleased 'Man these guys are stupid.' Roman thinks. The other five men run out the door to go after Neo and Ruby.
The grunts start shooting at Neo but Ruby draws her sword. Then goes in front of Neo and starts deflecting the bullets. After they run out of ammo Ruby dashes at them and sheaths her sword. Then proceeds to bash the first grunt in the head knocking him out instantly. The second grunt goes at her with a sword but Neo dashes in front of Ruby and knocks the blade aside. Ruby goes around Neo and punches him straight in the face.
Neo smacks the third grunt in the head with her umbrella and moves to the next and does the same thing. Roman looked very unamused 'These guys got their asses kicked by two girls. Well Neo is basically at the level of an assassin and Ruby don't even get me started on Her. She is The Grim Reaper.'
"You were worth every cent, truly you were." Roman said sarcastically – even if it is an accurate statement to make.
Roman looks at the downed men and drops his cigarette on the ground and crushes it with his cane. "Well Red, Ice Cream it's been an eventful evening but it's time for me to back out."
Roman shot a flair at Ruby and Neo. They move out of the way.
The explosion blinds Neo and Ruby for a few seconds but Ruby hears Roman going up a latter near their location.
"I can hear Roman going up a ladder off to our left let's follow him." Neo nods and they follow Roman
"Hey" Ruby shouted after Roman. Roman was getting on a Bullhead. "Persistent. End of the line Red, Ice Cream!" He shouted back at them. Ruby looked at Neo 'Ice cream?' he then throws a red dust crystal at them and shoots it. Ruby and Neo close their eyes waiting to feel the explosion but it never comes looking around they find Glynda Goodwitch "Oh Fuck…." Ruby quietly says. Roman takes the hint "Okay whoever driving this let's get out of here." the Bullhead driver nods and starts flying away. Glynda looked at the two girls "Why didn't you two do anything and let him get away?" Ruby's face and eyes both looked cold and emotionless. "I almost died pulling this stunt off and you want me to keep fighting? Yeah, not happening."
Minutes later they find themselves in an interrogation room. In the police station. The Grim Reaper didn't allow anyone to take her weapons. Neo did though. "I hope you two realize that your actions will not be tolerated." Glynda says sternly. It doesn't even faze Ruby but Neo is slightly afraid of her. Ruby looks at Glynda her eyes still cold and emotionless but she was also really ticked off. Ruby slams her hand on the table "They tried to rob me and you think I would stand there and let them rob me? I didn't even kill anyone." Glynda completely ignored what Ruby said. "If it were up to me you two would be sent home with a pat on the back and a slap on the wrist." Glynda said sternly and slapped her riding crop on the table.
"That's enough Glynda, your scaring at least one of them." a new voice states, calm and sincere.
Neo didn't know the man but Ruby did. "The Grim Reaper. So you haven't changed much." Ozpin was holding his signature cane and his mug.
Ruby looked up at the man. Her face was just like he remember cold and emotionless. Hardened by how she has been treated by others.
Ozpin took in her form. Then turned to Neo. "I don't believe we have met. I am Ozpin headmaster at Beacon and you are?"
Neo looked at Ruby and she nodded "Neapolitan Rose but I go by Neo."
"Can you tell me where you learned to fight like this?" Ozpin showed a video of Ruby and Neo fighting the 7 grunts and Roman Torchwick.
"Self-taught." They both replied in unison.
"I see well. I will offer you both a place at Beacon. We have a Team that needs a leader after the previous leader died on a mission. I will make an exception and allow Neo to be on that Team as you two seem to be sisters."
Neo looked at Ruby. Her face still emotionless. "I will accept your offer."
"Before that can I please know your name Grim Reaper?" Ozpin asked kindly.
Ruby looked up at him and said "Ruby Rose-Ravens.
Ozpin looks at Glynda. Who had a stunned face for a second or two but recovered quickly She sighed and pulled out her scroll and added Beacons newest additions to the list of students.
"You will need to pass an Initiation, however, both to assess your skill levels against Grimm and convince other students that you deserve to be there."
"Alright." Neo said simply