12 Months/Month 9
Come on, kid, pick up the pace. We're going to be late at this rate.
Ruby trails sulkily along behind Uncle Qrow. He's been in high spirits all week and won't tell her why. He says it's a surprise and won't even give her a hint. She sighs loudly. Qrow ignores her and instead gently tugs on her hand, urging her on.
They've come to Vale for whatever this surprise is and Qrow won't even let her stop to look in shop windows. Her first time in the city and they've done nothing but hustle. Ruby sighs again, louder and more obnoxious. Qrow only says, Keep up, Ruby. We're almost there, just three more blocks.
He lets go of her hand at the next corner to press the button for the light. Ruby takes the opportunity to look in the nearby shop. It looks kinda like the junk shop back on Patch but dimmer and the things inside are older and more worn.
Uncle Qrow calls her back before she can go inside for a closer look. She pouts and stomps back to his side. The effect is somewhat ruined by the way she has to weave through the rather large group of people that has gathered. A flicker of fear worms its way into Ruby's chest and she scurries the rest of the way to Qrow.
Across the street, the walking man lights up and everyone hurries to the other side of the street. Uncle Qrow doesn't notice he's walking too fast for Ruby to keep up and more and more people trickle in between them until she can't see him anymore through the press of bodies.
Ruby stops at the next corner, uncertain of what she should do. The first thing that comes to her head is to asks someone if they'd seen him but everyone always says she shouldn't talk to strangers. Eventually she decides to pick a random direction and just hope she meets back up with Uncle Qrow. She turns left down a side street and hurries off, confident in her plan.
Qrow just misses her when he backtracks after realising she isn't with him anymore. Swearing, he ducks into a side street and from there into an alleyway then takes off, praying he can find her before something happens.
…
Ruby doesn't find Uncle Qrow. Instead she finds a park when a young man and an older girl spar with great skill. They move like her uncle does, like her mother and father did. Ruby sets up to watch them; surely, so long as she doesn't say anything, nothing bad should happen.
The girl performs a particularly daring manoeuvre and Ruby gasps with delight and awe. The girl glances at her with amusement, the man with slight irritation. After a minute of two, Ruby stands and pulls off her jacket before falling into a stance her uncle taught her, watching the two strangers all the while.
Neo watches out the corner of her eyes as the little girl adopts a stance she must have learned from some huntsman relative and tries to copy her and Roman. A small smile tugs the corner of her mouth and she slows, Roman cursing softly as he is forced to slow with her.
Her associate shoots another annoyed look at the girl and Neo signs to him, Be nice, between exchanges.
Finally Roman gets fed up with the pseudo lesson - though it takes longer than Neo thought it would - and rounds on the girl, ducking one last kick from Neo. Shouldn't you be with your folks, kid?
The girl stumbles and recovers remarkably quickly, turning to beam up at Roman who glares down at her like she just killed his mother before his eyes. Or maybe not his mother; Roman hates that bitch. Maybe his little sister?
The girl remains unperturbed and Neo wonders if she should applaud her guts or sigh at her stupidity. The little fairy pipes, My uncle is around here somewhere. Could you show me that last move again? Just one more try and then I'll have it.
Roman's lip curls with disgust and Neo's amusement kicks up a notch. Just to tweak him, she obliges, movements slow and sure. The girl watches her intently then copies her, albeit rather clumsily. How intriguing.
Roman scoffs and goes to leave, C'mon, Neo. Let's get out of here.
No, wait! cries the girl, reaching out to them. I'll be quiet and I'll stay out of your way. Just please, stay and keep going; I'm learning so much.
Roman stares at her for a long moment then shakes his head incredulously. Kids these days, he grumbles, then starts to stomp off.
I'll- I'll run errands or weed or- or- or anything! the girl pleads. Please?
Her lower lip juts out in an adorable pout and Neo copies her over her head, shaking her own at Roman in a scolding manner belied by the twinkle in her mismatched eyes. The pout changes into a devious smirk as Neo signs one word that makes Roman blink then smile in return. Opportunity.
…
Qrow is frantic by the time he finally spies Ruby in a small park near a knot of apartment complexes. He touches down in an alley and runs out to meet her. Ruby, he calls and his heart stops when he sees the brilliant shiner she sports.
He drops to his knees in front of her, fingers ghosting over the bruise, checking how extensive the damage is. A stray thought crosses his mind that Summer is going to kill him when she sees and pain lances through his heart. A year on and her absence still hurts like hell. He pushes it aside for now, for her daughter. What happened? Are you alright?
A-okay, Ruby chirrups and for a second Qrow wants to smack her. She wanders away in the city of Vale, turns up with a black eye and then tells him she's just dandy? He clamps down on the urge and reflects that she really is her mother's daughter.
He stands, taking her hand firmly in his. Don't wander off again, he says. She opens her mouth to protest but closes it when Qrow gives her a sharp look. Ruby.
She looks glumly at the ground and mumbles, Yessir.
…
Raven is most definitely not starting to worry, dammit, when Qrow walks in the door, Summer's daughter in tow. Her brother looks like he's just coming down from an adrenaline rush and his hair is ruffled the way it always is after a flight. The little girl, Ruby, has a beautifully bruised eye and Raven thinks that if Taiyang were better - the fact that he isn't here speaks to the fact that he isn't - he'd probably kill Qrow and mount his head on a plaque in the cabin's living room.
Next to her, Yang stirs, wanting to go to her sister but unsure if she will be welcome. Raven can relate.
Qrow spots them and makes his way over. Ruby doesn't see them until they're a few feet away. She freezes in shock at the sight of Yang and doesn't move until Qrow prompts her. She keeps close to him, clinging to his hand. He gently maneuvers her into a chair then takes the last one for himself. Qrow smiles across the table at Yang and says, Hey.
Yang grins weakly back and returns, Hey, trying to ignore how Ruby stiffens. She turns to her sister, closes and opens her mouth a few times, then looks away, unsure of what to say. Raven nudges her arm and nods across the table when Yang looks to her.
Her daughter takes a breath and looks back at Ruby, wetting her lips nervously. Hey Ruby, she says weakly and winces.
Qrow presses his lips together as Raven closes her eyes and takes a calming breath. Ruby does not respond, just stares woodenly across the table at the sister she thought she'd never see again. Finally, she stands, turns to Qrow, and says, May I please be excused?
Ruby… he sighs then sadly shakes his head. Ruby nods stiffly but doesn't sit. She fixes her silver eyes to the tabletop, jaw clenched tightly. Again, Raven can relate.
Look kid, she begins, reaching out to touch the girl's wrist. I know this is hard. But you have to say something.
Why? grumbles Ruby. Why should I say anything to the person who abandoned me?
Yang flinches. She swallows then speaks up, I didn't know what was going to happen. I was scared and alone and I knew that if I ran, I most likely couldn't take care of us both.
So you thought leaving without even a note was the best thing you could do? snaps Ruby, finally looking up.
Yang looks away, shamefaced. She glances at the adults who silently stare back at her. Go on.
Yang looks back at Ruby, pained. I didn't know what else to do, she says softly, pleading for her sister, the most important person in her world, to understand. I'm sorry.
Sorry doesn't make up for months of being alone, whispers Ruby.
I know. It was stupid of me.
Obviously.
The two sisters stare at each other over the plastic table, both hurting. The adults watch, letting the girls sort it out themselves.
Ruby starts to tear up, her face twisting in grief. I thought you were dead, she whispers.
If she was from a civilised world, Raven would be shocked and moved at the amount of misery this seven year old held. If she was from a civilised world, her heart would be breaking for the two of them. The leader of the Branwen Tribe is not from a civilised world and instead muses with bitter fondness, She wears her heart on her sleeve, just like her mother.
Beside her, Yang tears up as well and says again, I'm sorry, then, I missed you, so, so much.
Ruby finally breaks and darts around the table to be engulfed by her sister's waiting, welcoming arms. A part of Raven feels she should be disgusted by their weakness but that is Summer's daughter and hers as well and something in her shriveled heart still cares enough to push that part aside and focus on bracing herself for the loss to follow this reunion.
Finally the girls' tears subside and Ruby asks, So when are you coming home? Her sister doesn't answer and Ruby questions, Yang? leans back to try and look Yang in the face. She won't meet Ruby's eyes. When are you coming home?
The silence is answer enough.
Oh, says Ruby, her voice suddenly hollow. I see.
She steps back from Yang, shoulders a rigid line of tension.
Yang tries to hold on to her, Ruby.
No, I see how it is, Ruby cuts her off. You miss me, but not enough to come back.
Why can't you come back with me? Yang counters and Raven and Qrow share a surprised look. This is not going as expected. Raven quickly buries the part of her that is doing a victory dance over the fact that Yang is choosing her. She cannot afford weakness.
And leave Patch? Ruby says, the idea obviously so alien to her as to be preposterous. Yang nods and Ruby pulls away even further, backing around the side of the table. She lowers her head, letting her hair shielding her face.
Go home, she whispers and Yang stares at her in shock.
R-Ruby?
Go home.
She turns back to Qrow and asks again, May I please be excused?
…
Ruby refuses to speak of Yang, no matter how many times Qrow broaches the subject. As soon as they get home, she gets the little scythe he helped her make and goes out to attack the dummy that's been set up out back. Qrow lets the topic go and stays to watch for ten, fifteen minutes, calling out advise and corrections.
Finally he gets up off the back steps and goes in after telling Ruby dinner will be ready in half an hour. He stands at the bottom of the stairs after he sets a pot of water to boil, hesitating. He sighs and starts up, praying Taiyang will be awake when he knocks on the door.
His old teammate is staring blankly out the window. Qrow leans against the door frame, waiting to see if Tai will acknowledge him. The blonde just keeps absently studying the way the late summer leaves sway on their branches.
We found Yang, says Qrow. Well, I say we, but it was really Raven.
Tai stirs a bit, his head turning subtly toward the door, toward Qrow. He pushes on, hoping that sign of interest was positive.
She was in Vale this whole time. I took Ruby there to meet them today. Qrow looks away, a shadow flitting across his face. It didn't exactly go as planned.
Taiyang is staring in his general direction now. That's good. He thinks.
Qrow has a couple of false starts before he spits the worst news out, Yang chose to stay with Raven. Ruby's really torn up about it- Hell, Yang is too.
A bitter half grin, I think Rae was about ready to dance for joy. Not that she'd ever admit it.
Taiyang is actually looking at him now. Qrow prays to the gods he doesn't really believe in that this is a good sign and waits for some sort of response.
One minute… Two… Qrow is about to give up when:
She's gone, whispers his nieces' father. His voice is hoarse from sparse use. Won't come back.
Qrow's jaw works but no sound comes out. He sags against the door frame and sighs, Yeah.
Taiyang turns away. Gone, he says again.
…
Qrow's next mission takes him away for two months and when he comes back, Ruby tells him she hasn't seen her father since before Qrow left.
AN: Chapter 2 of Diamond in the Rough is finally here. I know it seems bleak, but things will get better. Promise.
In other news, I have noticed something awful about this site: if you go to Browse, there is no section for Firefly/RWBY crossovers! With them being two such wonderful shows, why on earth has no one on this site yet thought of combining them?
I have taken it upon myself to write such a story. Who knows if it will every get off the ground, but if it does, it will be RWBY characters in the Firefly universe. I will start out handholding Firefly plot, but it hopefully should start to diverge simply because of the differences between the characters.
Characters were cast with little regard to their loyalties in RWBY, and more to do with whether or not their personalities and roles fit the Firefly character whose place they would be taking, as well as some consideration of the dynamics between the characters. For example, the devious and seductive Yo-Saff-Bridge replaced with Cinder.
Good God, someone please tell me this is not needed, thus releasing me from this madness. I'm begging you.