Fake It
SuperSonic156: Even being a literal outcast Ruby still has her justice driven self somewhere deep inside! o(^▽^)o
Also, "when Ruby and Blake finally do the deed." ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) I get'chu, holding hands is pretty hardcore right?
Sneky: I messed up that one little scene, RIP ( ´△`). Besides that yeah Ruby is doing pretty terrible at not getting attached, but I can justify that to being a human. Most of us want to be important to others whether your like Ruby; a person who was a normal child who still wants to be normal but is too much of a mental mess or Weiss; a person who does bullying to get the attention of others in this story.
SwaggerDaggers: Ruby is a lowkey badass at night! ٩(•̤̀ᵕ•̤́๑)ᵒᵏᵎᵎᵎᵎ
Vengfulfate: Thanks to your past self for following my story! (´꒳`)
RatedRSuperStar87: Basically, but it's going to be a difficult recovery for bringing Ruby out of her shell, especially for Yang! (・□・;)
BetwixtOni: For now the uploads on chapters with be Monday and Friday.
Now! Happy readings my dear viewers!
As I came out of my near dormant like sleep, my face and body felt like it had been trampled on and then lit on fire. Struggling to even move, I instantly slid off what little of the couch I was on with a thud; groaning in pain I laid there for quite a while before trying again. This time with more success as I slowly got up to my feet, panting from the shooting aches and pains as I stumbled my way to the bathroom and made it to the sink to look at the mirror in front of me. What I saw was someone else entirely different, my face was a swollen black and blue mess, my left eye was swollen shut, my right cheek was swollen, and my nose was covered in dry blood. Trying to touch my bad cheek gently I instantly recoiled in pain at it, "Oh boy, this is going to be fun to clean up by myself." I sighed before getting the necessary items to start the long process.
After a few weeping moments of when the pain was too much, I finally did everything I could to look at least more human-like than before. It then came to examine what was underneath my blood stained jacket, gulping, I steeled myself as I slowly slipped it off and over my head. What I found was more nasty bruising on my arm from when I rammed into the male yesterday night, I cringed at how bad everything was looking on my body, it didn't even cover the pain I was feeling with my back and chest from being tackled. "I just hope that those three learned their lessons." I idly thought before I decided that I would take a nice long shower.
Coming out of the shower and inevitably my bathroom, still in my birthday suit; I leisurely walked into my bedroom, "Oh the joys of living alone." I thought snarkily as I changed into my pajamas which were a black tank top with a bear monster shaped as a heart in the middle with a rose pattern pants. I slowly seated myself on the edge of my bed and brooded, "Why was that Faunus there in the first place, was she just going home or too quickly get something at the convenience store? Why did nobody help her out, I know for sure that that area was moderately busy at any time, so why was I the only one hearing her? Were the other passersby ignoring her?" The more these thoughts plagued me the more of a headache I seemed to get. Bringing my hands to my temples I stopped trying to think about the situation, I knew Faunus's had it rough.
They were largely divided from others due to them being more beast like, having super human strength, sight, smell, you name it. To me, I didn't see a problem, maybe when I was a little kid but my output on life changed after my losses. I knew the pain of what feeling like an outcast was and I didn't even want my worst enemies feeling like that, so I could sympathize with them on that. Finally plopping down on her bed, I looked at the window and saw that it was dark out again, I had basically slept the whole day away. Closing my eyes, I knew I would have to do my homework and then some after returning to school but that could wait for later, right now sleep was my priority.
Waking up early the next day due to a loud rumbling of my stomach, I quickly got out of bed before finally registering that my body was still sore. Grunting, I slowly limped to the kitchen to make something to eat and as I was rummaging through I happened to glance at the fallen milk. Having a bount of childish anger, I stuck my tongue out at the milk before grabbing leftovers of Chinese food from several nights ago and with that out of the way, I had my breakfast in relative peace.
Burping as I threw the takeout box in the trash, I then went to the bathroom to check up on myself and to my delight the swelling had gone down several notches but the bruises were still a mixture of black and blue. I knew that it would take a long while before I was fully recovered, but it didn't mean I liked knowing it, sighing, I left the bathroom to do my much dreaded homework assignments from two days ago.
When I was eventually finished with my assignments, I got up from my seat to stretch my stiffened legs. I quickly debated whether to go out for a stroll or just go out onto my small balcony for some much needed air, deciding on the option that wasn't going to draw some unneeded attention to me, I went to open my balcony door. I was then hit with a gentle Autumn breeze, closing my eyes I breathed in the cool air and felt properly relaxed for the first time in a while. "I could perfectly stand here in this breeze for hours if I wanted." I blissfully thought while my hair was billowing slightly in the wind, but inevitably something seemed a little off to me.
I was compelled to turn my head to the right and nearly had a heart attack as I saw the one and only Blake Belladonna on the next balcony. The transfer student's long flowing hair was mesmerizing to see as she was sitting on a small wooden chair, relaxed as her back was facing me. My eyes widen in shock when I finally zoned in on Blake's head, instead of the unmistakable purple bow, it was revealed to be cat ears on top of her head.
Any normal person in this situation would slowly go back into their home, close the door and forget this moment ever happened. Sadly, I wasn't exactly normal by any means, so being the way I was I shrieked in shock and alerted Blake to the fact that someone else was out here. Either this was a real damn heart attack I was feeling or my mind was great at imagining this sort of thing because when I saw that Blake was turning her head rather quickly to look at where the stupid readhead that was me was, I literally thought my heart exploded before my body dropped down to the floor and pitifully crawled back inside before closing the screen door with my foot.
"Ahh! What the hell was that! What the hell was that!" I yelled to myself as I clutched my head in shock at the sudden revelation. The transfer student named Blake; who was a mysterious beauty was a cat Faunus! Burying my head in the carpet, I felt that I saw something I really wasn't suppose to be seeing, gulping down a lump in my throat I lifted my head out of the carpet to breath. I gave it several minutes before I repositioned myself to be on my knees, crazily mumbling to myself, "Was that why Blake was so understanding of me when she said I hated her? No...Understanding wasn't the right word anymore, it was more along the lines of being use to hearing that word." Sudden guilt washed over me as all this made sense. At this moment I felt I was no better than those three I fought off yesterday, and so I covered my mouth to sob aloud.
Once recovered I got up from the floor feeling bitter with myself. All I wanted to do was sleep this feeling off and that's exactly what I would do. I was startled awake by sounds of yelling and my only light source was my digital clock. It had read 11pm on it, so being curious I heaved myself up from the bed with a yawn and walked into the darkness that was my living room, hearing more yells coming from her neighbors room, A.K.A Blake's room. Flinching as I heard a loud slam from probably the door next to my room, I naturally became curious about the commotion.
So going to the entrance door I quietly opened it just enough to peek out to the hallway, as I did this I caught a glimpse of a tall guy wearing a hooded black jacket, fitting jeans and shoes; I only managed to catch a glimpse of his spiky red hair coming through the opening of the hood. I also noted that he walked like he was angered by something, thinking that was enough snooping I was about to head inside but soon froze when I heard him growl out the name Blake..
He also stopped just before he reached the stairs; it was like he smelled my fears and with a horrible inevitability, he snapped his neck to the side and looked straight at me with sharp teeth bared. Shuddering in response at how dangerous this encounter was it made it ten times worse when they made eye contact with each other. That's when I felt like I was gonna die tonight, it was the way his eyes spoke volumes to me, I could literally see all the contempt in his eyes. Those crimson slitted orbs seemed to burn into my mind, brief flashes of anguish and grief flickering across them only to be replaced by a fearsome and terrifying loathing. I felt as if he wanted to kill me right then and there, a blind fury slowly enveloping him and causing his entire body to shake. The smoldering anger was quickly giving way as wrath began pooling deep within those fearsome eyes and he turned his entire body to face me.
I had never been more scared in my life then right at this moment. Instinctively I squeaked out an apology to him before slamming my door shut and locking it in fear. I hoped to God that he wouldn't make his way over to my door and start pounding it, so as a precaution she leaned against the door as added weight while her hands shakily gripped my hair. I waited ten terrifying minutes to pass before pushing myself off the door and walking stiffly to the kitchen to get a drink of water to calm my frayed nerves. When I got up from my seat in the kitchen my body was still shaking slightly from the shock of the earlier encounter, I could only hope that I would never have to see him again. That night, I was in a restless sleep.
Sunday wasn't really interesting and that spoke volumes, usually that 'was' an interesting day to me. These past few days had been so eventful that I became accustomed to the array of emotions and sights. Soon Monday rolled around and I was at school once again, on my way to my first period class. I was all to aware of the stares I was receiving from my peers, definitely from the severe bruising on my face that I tried covering up with bandages and a medical eyepatch. I saw them point fingers and whisper behind their guarded hands that did little to help my self-esteem, but once I saw Weiss approaching with an angry expression at me, everyone knew to clear away.
"So you came back only to be disgustingly beat up?" The Ice Queen spoke with displeasure before smirking smugly at me, "What's becoming of yourself, trying to be a delinquent now? Well it's in my best interest that I keep a better 'eye' on you, Ruby." She cackled at her own words and I flinched saying nothing, I only tried to walk past her and end her torment early but that was error as she grabbed by my arm and rammed me into the wall.
Having the wind knocked out of me; I was soon gasping for air. I only heard laughing from Weiss and footsteps of students leaving the area quickly, "Why was it that my luck seemed so shitty?" I gritted my teeth as I scanned the corridor for help but found none, "Where were the damn teachers and security!?"
My face was snapped back into looking at Weiss when the other girl had her free hand gripping on my chin, "What are you searching for you dolt?" She questioned as she tightened her vice-like grip onto the my arm. Closing my eyes in pain, I would not allow myself to give into Weiss's torment.
"Do you really think anyone can hel- Aaaa!?"
"Why did she scream like that?" Curious, I opened up my only eye and was amazed by seeing Weiss being lifted up by none other than Yang. My mouth hung open in disbelief as the scene unfolded before me.
"W-what are you doing y-you brute!" Weiss was struggling to get out of Yang's grip; her side-ponytail whipping around wildly as she flailed about to no avail.
Yang laughed in amusement before responding, "Just thought I'd give you a lift to your class, princass!" and with that she began to carry Weiss off to English class. Still standing there like an idiot, it wasn't until Yang's head turn towards my direction to signal me to follow, "Come on Rubes don't wanna be late to the joys of first period!" I nodded automatically before rushing to her side, taking precautions to stay well away from the now-furious Weiss. Student's were snickering at the scene when the unlikely trio walked to class and in desperation to save her pride, Weiss started to curse and hit Yang in an attempt to escape but all it did was put a smug grin across Yang's face.
As they walked, Yang began to question the shy girl about my absence and how I ended up looking so battered. Ever so silent, I didn't answer Yang at all, choosing to be quite over my situation. Instead I briefly wondered how the teachers had not heard or seen any of the past few minutes. Yang was proving harder to ignore as she pressed for answers, refusing to relent. "Yo Rubes! Tell me what happened!" She playfully bumped me with her hip, jolting a now quietly seething Weiss.
Sighing in exasperation I relented, "If I told you I'd have to kill both of you." oddly enough I didn't stammer at my strange joke/distraction. I was not willing to reveal anything about Thursday night, especially about the fight for freeing a Faunus, it could lead into huge problems for me. Fortunately, it seemed that the distraction short-circuited both Yang's and Weiss's brains as they stared at me incredulously, Weiss especially.
Weiss was first to regain her voice, "C-come again?"
Yang glanced at the other girl before turning to me, "Yeah, what she said!"
Shocking them even further, I smiled at them amused that my simple ruse worked before slipping inside my class. It wasn't until I was already seated that she begun hearing Weiss's and Yang's shouting for answers.
"Hmm, I should probably thank Yang when I have the time.."
It wasn't until English class started that I realized who I was sitting next to again and began nervously side glancing at the culprit; I knew something that nobody here knew about Blake, something that would get her bullied like me if I ever spilled the beans. Nervously twirling my bangs, I knew I wouldn't ever do that but I also had a strong feeling that Blake wouldn't have wanted me to see her like that, out of fear or not.
Fast forward later in the day, I was in art class who was taught by Mr. Roman Torchwick, a stylistic young man who sported a cane out of pure aesthetics, this combined with his sarcastic demeanor and his mocking-like body language made him her favorite. "I'll cut to the point, we're starting a new project and you'll be partnering up with your lovely peers." He smirked, "And to avoid the inevitable ruckus, I have already assigned who all your partners will be, so once I say who you're with go sit by them." Flashing everyone a list with all their names on it, he began to read aloud who was with who.
I paid the most attention as I could to the call out, "My luck couldn't possibly be 'that' shitty enough to give me to the person I didn't want to face any time soon, right?" Unfortunately, my luck was shitty enough for it, as I heard him call out, "Blake you are partnered up with Ruby." A loud crack was heard; it seems I broke my pencil.
"Shit.." I thought as embarrassment flooded into my face when I saw everyone staring at me. Putting my head down in shame, I trudged over to where Blake was sitting, art supplies in hand. I awkwardly started messing with my long bangs to calm my nerves while Mr. Torchwick called out the rest of my peers. I felt the transfer student stare at me before whispering into my ear, making me shiver, "You know, you don't have to be so nervous around me." I could only nod at Blake before Mr. Torchwick's cane smacked against the whiteboard rather loudly.
"Okay class, the next step in this project is listening to my instructions! Today you have been partnered up because I want to see how people who seemingly have nothing in common can work together to make art." He stated, "But! The twist is that both your work has to coincide with one another. By that, I mean it has to at least look harmonious, I do not want to see half baked art, understand!" He yelled with passion seeping through his words. "You have a week to finish so use it wisely. Oh, and the paper you'll be using is poster type which is right here on my desk." He finished as he headed off to the back of the room where his own personal art supplies were.
Blake got up to fetch the paper and when she got back, I spoke up, "Um, c-can I see some of your w-work so I could possibly think of something to m-make?" I stuttered, utterly nervous around the mysterious girl. We looked at each other before Blake nodded and moved to get some of her previous works; I did the same. "Here." We said in unison, causing a vivid blush to color my cheeks and a slight surprised expression on Blake's face.
As I looked through the other girl's works, I felt a bit saddened, they all had this grim-dark sense to them, each primarily based with charcoal. I began to wonder if this was intentional and had something do with her Faunus heritage, as someone said "In every work of art the artist himself is present." When I glanced at her face however, I noticed the faintest of smiles gracing her features and that made my heartbeat quicken, my theorize all but forgotten.
"I really like your sketchy yet detailed style while also coloring or painting them so vibrantly." She spoke while still looking at them, my heart swelling with pride and joy as I heard that.
"W-well I like how gritty and r-rough you make your drawings and unlike mine, you take the time to make it look realistic." I smiled shyly while Blake's cheeks went faintly pink before she swiftly turned her head away, humming in acknowledgement. I grinned childishly before nudging Blake's side; I didn't know why I was being so bold all of a sudden, this wasn't like me, I wasn't even friends with Blake. But in that moment I decided not to care, "Oh~ Is that a blush?" I teased and this time it was Blake's turn to grunt at me.
A moment passed before the older one turned back to me composed. "I have no idea what you're talking about." I just puffed out my cheeks in annoyance at her statement.
"Sore loser." I thought before changing the subject, "Fine b-be that way but we still need to think of an idea for this." Blake hummed in thought before speaking up.
"Well both our styles really clash with one another; I draw in a dark and realistic style while you draw in a vibrant and sketchy style." She looked at both of our art works, "It'll be a challenge for sure, but nothing we can't work around." She gestured at the works laid out in front of her.
"M-maybe we can do something like an action scene meshed with our own flare?" I said inquisitively and Blake thought about it.
"How would we do that?" She tilted her head at me quizzically and I gulped nervously.
"I-I think because of your gritty style you could do an all black scenery while I could m-make the main focus of the drawing as something of a colorful enough movement scene of a character," Pausing as I glanced at Blake, I could tell she was a bit confused, "U-um, something along the lines of 'the light shines through the darkness' type of deal." that's when everything clicked inside Blake's head and she nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, that would blend in very nicely if done right." She said more to herself before looking intently at me. "You know, you're quite the leading type when it comes down it aren't you?" Blake praised at the younger girl making me flustered.
My mind went into a frenzy after that, "Why was it so easy for me to get embarrassed by Blake!? Why was it so easy for me to talk to her!? Why was it easy for her to get so close to someone she barely met!?" Blake poked me back into reality.
"...Ruby, It's time for lunch." Blake hesitated for a second before speaking again, "And If you want we could get a head start from everyone else by elaborating more of this scene you want to do with me there." She finished rather bashfully as she was packing all her things.
Left in disarray at the option Blake left me, my body automatically did my decision for me. Quickly shoving my supplies into my backpack, I looked to see Blake was already waiting for me at the door with the blank poster paper in hand.
I had patiently waited outside for Blake to get her food in the cafeteria. I had suggested that they eat outside because it would be the quietest time and would cause fewer distractions for Blake and I. Well that was the plan; but a rather boisterous blonde had made it all too apparent that she was going to hang out with them.
Blake and I were sitting together while Yang sat happily alone. "So you two are the artists of our little group?" Yang grinned at us, Blake just rolled her eyes while I just stayed silent.
"You aren't suppose to be part of this 'little" group. Nor is this a permanent group to begin with…" But the awkwardness was getting more intense as the silence continued and wanting to change the atmosphere I turned to face Blake, "Erm, so how do you think the action scene should pan out, Blake?"
She shook her head at me before saying solemnly, "I'm not really good at coming up with ideas like this, sorry."
I waved my hand like it was no big deal, "N-no, it's okay. We'll figure something out." An awkward silence fell again until Yang's loud crunch of her taco brought our attention to her.
The blonde smiled, "So what I'm hearing is both of you two have a little artist block?" Finished with food still in her mouth. I nodded at her and Blake looked slightly disgusted, fortunately, Yang swallowed her food before speaking again, "What do you guys have to do exactly?" Blake started explaining what the project wanted from them and Yang's face went into a daze a couple times but she quickly regained her bright look, "Maybe you two can, like, outline each other's works!"
Both the artist's shot her a confused look and she sighed before explaining in more detail, "So Blake can do the background on a separate piece of paper while you do the, um, focus point on some tracing paper? Then, uh, the two of you could put it together and see if it looks any good. I mean, you do draw really great art Rubes." She finished off with a toothy grin.
"Wait, how does Yang know I could draw good? I've never shown anyone besides Blake, so how did she know?" almost like Yang read my mind due to the nervous laughter, she quickly retrieved a piece of paper from her handbag.
"Haha, I found this in the hallway once on my way to the principal's office." She handed me the piece of paper and the instant I saw it, I blushed profusely. This was a quick little sketch I drew as the doodle was similar to what Weiss looked like but was looking more pristine in a white one-piece battle dress, a long sleeved cream jacket worn over it as her waist was tied in a deep red sash with white calf-high boots. To top off the doodled Weiss, she held in one hand a pure white alternated fencing sword.
"H-how embarrassing..." I whined before putting my head down on the table. While I did feel embarrassed I also felt strangely proud that Yang had actually kept this. My reaction brought upon guffaws from Yang and a quiet chuckle from Blake, I too began to giggle at the infectious laughter.
I looked at Blake once the laughing fest died down and I spoke happily catching everyone off guard, "Well Yang's i-idea seems like it has a lot of potential." Yang fist pumped at this; I shook my head before continuing, "So do you w-wanna try her idea?" Blake nodded in approval. It was settled then; they would try out Yang's idea and hope it worked out. "G-great! So if we both bring in what we've done tomorrow and look at it in class, we can decide from there!" I smiled joyfully at the two of them, totally unaware of what I was doing as the two seemed shocked.
Hoho~ There is the big difference to this fic, Ruby knows about Blake being a Faunus now!
As always please let me know your thoughts!
