A Sad RWBY AU
By: FunahoMisaki
(A/N: I own nothing and what if Ruby's semblance came with a price? A very lethal price. Today is Ruby's 16th birthday and everyone seems happy for her except her dad, uncle, sister, and herself…why? No one knows…but…they'll find out. AU OOC maybe Femslash and definite bashing)
"Morning sis. How are you feeling today?" Yang asked gently as her sister woke up and rolled over in her bed, falling out and landing easily on her floor like a cat did. That was the usual morning routine in the Team RWBY dorm room but...Yang's voice was softer and more worried than any other time which caused the other two members of the team to pause their own morning routines.
"Morning Yang. I'm fine just…tired…" Ruby said softly in return, causing the other two girls heads to snap to her in alarm. Ruby was never tired, she was an abundance of energy!
"Try to stay up all night to wake me at midnight again this year?" Yang asked quickly covering for her sister when she saw her two teammates worried looks.
"Yeah…almost made it. Darn it. I wanted to be the first one up on today of all days." Ruby said pouting as she put on a mask. It wasn't a real mask, no fabric or disguise or anything…it was a personality mask. She acted cheerful, childish, and carefree again.
"What's so important about today?" Weiss asked confused as she tried to think about all the things that could be important about today.
"What isn't!? It's the big day! My baby sister finally turned sixteen!" Yang said grinning as she wrapped Ruby in a hug that looked like a normal one…but it was actually very soft and gentle. The two other girls were startled at this while Ruby smiled brightly.
"I didn't know it was your birthday!?" Weiss exclaimed startled as she darted over to her Scroll and sent off a message to Team JNPR.
"That would explain why today is circled in bright red on the calendar…" Blake said looking at the calendar on the wall. Before Ruby had the chance to say anything their dorm room door was nearly kicked in by Nora, the rest of her team rushing in behind her as they all jumped on Ruby.
"Happy Birthday! Why didn't you tell me it was coming up? I would have gotten you a super awesome gift!" Nora was more excitable than usual, which many thought was impossible, as she hugged Ruby tightly while her three teammates all converged on the red clad girl as well. All wishing her a happy birthday and asking why she didn't tell them.
"Sorry Sorry. With all the excitement that's been going on I guess it must have slipped my mind. It's okay. I don't need anything really. I'm just happy to spend today with my friends." Ruby said laughing slightly as she hugged Nora back and gave all of her friends hugs, reassuring them that it was okay that they didn't get her anything.
"Come on! Let's get you to breakfast! You must be pretty hungry! You're definitely going to need a lot of energy for today of all days!" Nora said laughing as she nearly dragged Ruby out of the room. Ruby gave a startled laugh as Nora gave Ren a look and the Chinese teen just smirked as he put Ruby on his back piggy back style, causing her to wrap her arms around him to keep from falling.
"Ren usually only does this for me on my birthday or any other special holiday but since it's such a big day for you he'll do it for you too! Now Pony Ren! To the cafeteria full speed ahead!" Nora said causing the others to laugh while Ren just shook his head at the pony part before taking off with Ruby on his back.
"Ready for a little parkour?" Ren asked Ruby over his shoulder as he raced past several other students. The rest of their teams raced after the two, some of them - *cough* Yang *cough*- were laughing their asses off as they recorded this while the others just laughed slightly or smiled and raced after the two.
"Sure!" Ruby said laughing despite herself as Ren jumped down the stairwell, earning a few startled curse words from some students on the landing, and pull vaulted over the railing of the second stairway. He landed easily on his feet with Ruby still on his back laughing loudly as he continued to pull off parkour and other reckless stunts that normally he wouldn't do with someone on his back. Ruby seemed to enjoy them though so he didn't mind.
"Here we are milady. Last stop for the Ren Taxi for the moment. Rides will continue between and on the way to and from classes." Ren said in a fake British accent that had Ruby giggling harder as the pink eyed boy skidded to a stop just outside the cafeteria doors where most of the teachers were standing watching the going on with smiles or laughs of their own.
"Thanks Ren but you don't have to do that! I can get to classes just fine on my own…and if I want to ride piggy back style I can always get Yang to do it." Ruby said grinning as she slipped off of Ren's back with ease.
"Ah but Nora insists I be your piggy back taxi for today. I'm so used to doing it for her that carrying you around in the same manner is no probably at all…at least you don't scream in my ear." Ren said adding the last bit with a massage on his ears, causing Ruby to laugh again.
"Well I wouldn't want to be the reason your girlfriend is mad at you." Ruby teased causing Ren's cheeks to turn pink.
"She's not my girlfriend." Ren said causing Ruby to grin mischievously, much like her sister would.
"Not yet. Come Christmas time if you two aren't dating I swear I will get the others help in locking you both in a supply closest full of mistletoes." Ruby said causing Ren to jaw drop while Team WBY and JNP finally caught up to them.
"Ruby! How'd you like the pony ride? He's a good pony isn't he? He does so many tricks but if you ride on his back for too long he starts getting really slow and sweaty and that's no fun…We can't have that happen to you for today so if he starts getting sweaty I'll give you a piggy back ride! That way it's fair!" Nora chattered happily as she latched onto Ruby. Ren face-palmed at being called a pony in front of so many people while Ruby shook with repressed laughter.
"He's a… very good… pony and yes he does a lot of tricks Nora. You've trained him well. Perhaps you should give the pony a reward?" Ruby asked grinning slightly while Yang and Juane hit the ground howling in laughter at the look on Ren's face.
"Yeah I think he deserves a treat too! After all he usually only carries me around but he's being nice and carrying you around on your birthday so I should get him a treat! But I'll give it to him tomorrow! Today's only about you! I still have to run into town and get you a present!" Nora chattered happily as she practically dragged Ruby past the all out laughing/snickering teachers and into the cafeteria. The rest of the two teams followed the two hyper girls into the line while the teachers watched in open amusement.
"Good morning Ruby. How are you today?" Ozpin asked as he and the other three teachers finally joined the two teams as they sat down to eat breakfast, Nora still latched onto Ruby and chattering rapidly.
"Good morning sir. I'm fine how are you?" Ruby asked smiling up at Ozpin while Nora and the rest of the teams went quiet at the sight of the teachers all standing there holding something behind their backs and grinning.
"I'm fine Ruby thank you for asking. Now…I believe that I have something belonging to you." Ozpin said smiling slightly wider and causing Ruby to tilt her head slightly confused.
"I'm sorry sir but I don't know what you could have that belongs to me. I haven't lost anything recently…" Ruby said confused and causing Yang to snort.
"Surprisingly enough she's right. She hasn't lost a single thing in over a week. That's a new record sis!" Yang said causing the group to snicker while Ruby stuck her tongue out at her sister.
"Ah well it's not something you already have. It's something I'm going to give you." Ozpin said causing Ruby to blink up at him confused.
"Happy birthday Ruby!" Ozpin said grinning widely as he dropped a carefully wrapped box on the table in front of Ruby, startling her and causing the whole cafeteria to go dead silent in a heartbeat.
"We didn't know what all you liked so we just got you stuff we thought you might need or want." Goodwitch said placing a beautifully wrapped present in front of the red caped girl as well.
"Hopeyoulikeit!" Oobleck said bouncing in place as he set down a hastily wrapped present.
"Why I know you will one day be a great huntress young miss Rose. Hope you enjoy the gift." Port said setting down a present wrapped in old newspapers. He would have launched into a story…but with the way Goodwitch was glaring at him…that wouldn't be advisable.
"What? It was the only thing I had on hand when I bought the present and you all were too busy to loan me some wrapping paper!" Port said defensively at the glare Goodwitch was giving him. She face-palmed at this.
"And you didn't think to buy wrapping paper while you were buying the present?" Goodwitch asked raising an eyebrow at her coworker who blushed sheepishly at this.
"Thank you so much professors! You didn't have to get me anything though!" Ruby said beaming up at her professors happy and a little embarrassed, causing Goodwitch's face to soften as she looked at the young girl.
"We get all of the students gifts when their birthday's happen during school days. We just went a little…farther with yours because you are the youngest student here." Goodwitch said blushing slightly under the knowing looks that her coworkers were giving her.
"What dear Glynda here is trying to say is that her motherly side comes out more around you than the other students cause of your young age and innocent nature. So naturally she went a bit…overboard on getting your present and making sure we did the same. It's okay though. We don't mind…but boy is Peter going to catch hell later when she gets him alone. He should have known to ask her for spare wrapping paper or buy his own." Ozpin stage-whispered to Ruby loudly, causing her to giggle slightly while Port was eyeing Goodwitch warily. For her part Goodwitch blushed and punched Ozpin in the shoulder…hard.
"Shut up Ozpin. I'd hate to have to ruin her birthday by kicking your butt." Goodwitch said causing Yang to snort, loudly.
"Ruin it? Sis loves fighting whether it's participating in one or watching others fight! Being able to watch two renowned hunters fight would probably make her day!" Yang said causing Ruby to blush slightly.
"Hey last I checked you like fighting too Yang!" Ruby said defensively, causing Yang to laugh and mess up her baby sisters hair.
"It's an inherited trait, my dear baby sister." Yang said causing Ruby to scowl as she fixed her hair.
"Don't call me a baby!" Ruby protested as she punched her sisters shoulder.
"Ouch hey! Careful little sis! You've been wielding that monster of a scythe of yours for too long! You're getting stronger and stronger every day." Yang said massaging her arm in faux pain and causing Ruby to clutch her weapon to her chest protectively.
"I have not been wielding my baby for too long! You're just a big wimp! She's not a monster either!" Ruby said nearly cuddling her weapon, much to the others amusement.
"Sis I tried to pick her up once and threw out my shoulder! She's a monster of a weapon!" Yang said causing jaws to drop. If Yang threw out her shoulder trying to pick her up…how heavy was that scythe?
"Like I said you're just a big wimp!" Ruby said sticking her tongue out at her sister.
"Hey little Red! How heavy is that scythe of yours?" Coco, Leader of second year Team CFVY, asked as she sauntered up to the table, causing Ruby to blink up at her.
"She's not heavy at all. Yang's just being a big baby." Ruby said causing Coco to grin slightly while Yang pouted.
"Mind unfolding her to full form and letting me try to pick her up then? I wanna see how heavy she is compared to my bag." Coco asked causing Ruby to blink up at her before a simple twist of her wrist had Crescent Rose unfurl in all of her glory as Ruby set her down on the ground.
"Thanks little red and happy birthday." Coco said grinning as she ruffled Ruby's hair fondly, causing the girl to whine slightly as the older girl reached down to pick up the scythe. Coco grabbed the scythes handle with one hand and tried to pick it up, looking startled when it didn't even budge. Putting her bag down nearby Coco grabbed the scythe with both hands and tried to pick it up. The large scythe barely even moved an inch before Coco stopped and stared at Ruby wide eyed.
"Little Red…this thing has got to be twice as heavy as my bag at the least. How do you make it look so easy?" Coco asked causing jaws to drop everywhere, everyone had seen Coco brain at least one or two Grimm with her bag with ease and not even break a sweat…and Crescent Rose was heavier than that?! Too heavy for the coffee addict to even lift!?
"She's not that heavy. You're all just not used to her like I am. I made her years ago and have extensive training with her, so I don't even notice her weight." Ruby said reaching one small hand down and picking up her scythe easily, causing jaws to drop further as she easily put the scythe back in its compact form and strapped it back to its usual place across her lower back.
"Aren't you going to unwrap your presents Ruby?" Blake asked pointing at the presents still sitting in front of them on the table.
"You're supposed to unwrap them? But most of them look pretty in the wrapping paper?" Ruby asked honestly confused and causing everyone to stare at her.
"You've never gotten a present before?" Goodwitch asked sounding as if she were choking on something as she glared at Yang.
"Not any that needed to be unwrapped." Ruby said confused and causing everyone to stare at her and Yang in disbelief.
"What do you normally get for your birthday and Christmas from your family?" Weiss asked taken aback by this revelation.
"Well Yang usually takes me out to fight someone somewhere, or lets me watch as she beats up some bullies. Dad just gives me the money to go and buy my own presents since he's really busy all the time. Uncle Qrow just gives me more training and some fighting lessons. If I do really good he sometimes teaches me a new trick to pull off with Crescent Rose." Ruby said looking at everyone confused. Yang saw Weiss opening her mouth and hurriedly motioned for her to not say anything, already knowing what the heiresses questions was going to be. Weiss asked anyway in spite of, or maybe because Yang motioning for her not to.
"What about your mother?" Weiss asked ignoring Yangs motions, everyone instantly knew that it was a sensitive subject by the way Ruby instantly seemed to wilt and almost curl in on herself.
"Mama…mama died when I was really little. I don't have any memories of her except for a white cape. Yang, dad and uncle tell me stories about her sometimes though." Ruby said softly as she stared down at her bowl of cereal…suddenly she didn't feel so hungry anymore.
"W-When did she die?" Port asked softly causing Ruby to give a small sad smile.
"I-I left my school books in my room during the commotion this morning. I'll be back in a few minutes." Ruby said taking off out of the cafeteria so fast that no one even saw her move, one second she was there and the next it was only a small dissolving trail of rose petals.
"You just couldn't leave it alone could you!? You saw me motioning for you not to ask! You saw me doing it and you still asked her because you're too damn nosy." Yang raged as she turned nearly glowing red eyes on Weiss who was taken aback by this.
"What's the big deal?" Weiss asked confused, causing more than a few people to shot her glares for how callous she was.
"The big deal is that you had to ruin her good mood! You don't get it do you! Ruby's mom died when she was two. Ruby doesn't have any of her own memories of her and we didn't have any pictures of her! All she knows about her mom is what I, our dad, or her Uncle have told her! The big deal is that you reminded Ruby that she'd never get to know her mom…" Yang ranted at the white haired heiress, her hair lighting itself on fire in her anger. Yang's next rage said words caused everyone to gasp shocked and a few of the females to look stricken while Weiss looked rightly abashed.
"You just had to bring up her mom when her mom died on Ruby's birthday!"
