"So… you're half-sister, the Crimson Reaper, an infamous murderer, is now our leader?" WBY sat in their dorm room, their new leader had been roughly seized and dragged to the Dean's office. Maybe too aggressively, after all she did save someone when no one else did. In the meantime, Weiss had been trying to wrap her head around the fact that they were to be led by a killer.
"Apparently." Blake seemed less apprehensive than any of her teammates, even more so after the cafeteria incident. It was hard to find anyone that actively protected faunus.
Yang had been silent ever since Ruby had been revealed. It must be such a confusing flood of emotions. It's her little sister, who she once loved and had not seen in several years, but it was also a stone cold killer. Her lilac eyes were misted over as she was lost in thought. Reminiscing, dreading, pondering, whatever the case may be, she was not listening. Her focus on some far off land that only she could see.
All eyes fell on the door as there was a tough knock on its heavy wooden face. It seemed like hours before Weiss had risen to answer it. The air lay heavy as everyone's heartbeat raced, what lay behind the door may be their murderer of a leader fuming with rage and ready to take it out on them. Then again, it may be some other person with nothing about them to fear. The ice heiress opened the door with the motivation of a teenager on a Saturday morning. Painstakingly slow, the door cracked open revealing to the snowy fencer the shoulder of a red cloak. Weiss's body tensed. She opened the door fully. Silver eyes gleamed in the setting sun shining through the uncurtained window. They were not alone, sharpened white teeth gently shimmered. With a gulp, Weiss stepped aside.
"Yo! Didja miss me?" 3 pairs of eyes stared at the Reaper before them. "Oh, you probably wanna know what Ozpin wanted. He said that one more strike and I'm going back."
"One more? You technically only committed one wrong." Weiss was genuinely curious as to why it was two strikes.
"Well, anything that isn't strictly related to being a leader, student, or casual civilian, is a strike. Making that pager was a strike since it could have maybe possibly been a bomb. I guess."
"That's rather harsh." The heiress was always one for rules.
"Wait, are you defending me Weiss? The notorious Crimson Reaper?" Ruby's smile shifted from a friendly but unnerving smirk to a genuine and happy grin.
"W-well, I just think that is an absurd rule is all. Rules should be tools to protect the public and individual, not restrictive, tyrannical objects." A slight blush crept onto the typically icy hearted girl.
"No way!" The oddly silent Yang returned to her regular, booming self. "You totally have the hots for my sister!"
"I-I do not!" the heiress had a creeping blush. It threatened to consume her entire face, luckily the setting sun aided in hiding it.
"You so do, you're totally blushing." The yellow brawler pestered further.
Their heated argument was cut short by a light laughter. Like beautiful chimes singing on a spring afternoon, it filled the air. All who heard it stopped to listen, but just as suddenly as it started, the musical giggle stopped.
Sensing all eyes on her, Ruby opened her own eyes, which she had closed during her moment of excessive happiness. She raised an eyebrow in question. "What?"
"Your laugh is very… beautiful." Blake admitted. The usually stoic member of the team, actively blushing at her confession.
"Sooo… where's your stuff?"
"I literally only have what I'm wearing, maximum security prison, remember?"
"Riiiiiight…. Sorry, I meant no offense."
"It's alright, Yang. I don't mind. After all, I deserved to be there." Ruby's tone was solemn. Her eyes were downcast.
"You might have some stuff at home, but it's from when you were, like, 15." Yang rubbed the back of her head, a sheepish smile adorned her features, "I… I saved them in case you ever came back…"
"I could never go back."
Knocking on the door, once more, disrupted the ominous atmosphere. This time, Blake answered the door. She had been pretending to read a book, when in reality she was listening in on the sisters. Weiss had gone out and refused to give a reason.
"I'm back." The heiress has returned, her arms laden with bags.
"Welcome back" Ruby chirped. "What's with the bags?"
"Well, since you don't have anything, I figured I would get you some. As a form of welcoming gift."
Ruby was speechless, as well as everyone else. Blake had returned to "reading" and Yang stood to the side, a massive grin on her lips.
"Weiss, you didn't have to. I mean thank you, but I don't have anyway to repay you, and since I'm still technically a prisoner I can't really get a job, not that any place would hire me anyway."
"Do you not understand the premise of a gift?" came Weiss's haughty reply. She had placed the bags down when she came in. Now she stood with a hand on he hip and weight shifted to one leg. "You're not supposed to pay back a gift. Besides, I do not want to share a room with someone who does not have so much as a toothbrush."
"Uhm… thanks, I guess."
A curt nod was the heiress's reply before she walked into the bathroom, shutting the door and locking it. Shortly after, the sound of the shower filled the silence.
"Oh yeah, since we're teammates now, why don't you give me your scroll ID so I can call you?" Yang, the expert at banishing the still air, suggested.
"I don't have one, never have. And I'm not allowed to get one either." was the response, accompanied by a shrug.
"That's… odd, scrolls are a fundamental tool to a leader, aside from communicating with your team when their not around, it also displays critical information about them, such as how much aura they have in real time." Blake put down her book, no longer satisfied with just eavesdropping.
"Eh, well, I don't make the rules, Ozpin does. Well, Ozpin and Ironwood. Since I'm both a student and prisoner now. I'm not really allowed to touch any form of communication device."
"Well, how are we supposed to get a hold of you?" Yang asked with a bit of anger peaking through her voice.
"I guess you could make one of the pagers that I gave to Velvet. That's the extent of it though."
"None of us have the knowledge or dexterity to do that." A defeated sigh came from the black-haired girl.
For a while, silence filled the room. Only the sound of splattering water from Weiss's shower broke it.
"I could teach you, then you could make one." Offered Ruby.
"We still wouldn't have the motor skills." Yang countered, a frown on her features.
"I could marionette one of you."
"I don't think that would work." Once more, Yang countered.
"We could still try, it would be better than nothing."
Looking to Blake for assistance, but not finding any, the blonde brawler sighed and submitted. "Alright, write down what you need and one of us will get it tomorrow."
As the Reaper was jotting down the supplies, Yang sauntered over to her partner. "Are you going to tell her about…" she twitched her ears, hoping her keen companion would be able to pick up on the hint.
"I don't know, I guess I should, but… I just… I don't know, Yang." Blake slumped down on her bed. The blonde bruiser offered a sympathetic smile.
"That should be everything." Ruby set down her pencil and skipped over to the seated members of her party. "Here you go." She offered Yang the slip of paper, the print neat and sharp. It was too dim to make out what it says, but not dark enough to completely hide away the written characters.
Silver eyes stared into amber ones after the exchanging of the paper had occurred. Yang stood up and walked to the other side of the room to place it with her bag.
Blake's discomfort manifested itself in the tensing of muscles and fidgeting thereof. Her eyes flicked away from the absorbing, enchanting silver ones, only to once more be drawn in.
In a desperate attempt to break the tension she felt, Blake voiced her thoughts, "What? Do I have something on my face?"
Silver eyes perked up, a reflection of mirth behind the irises. Ruby's lips turned upward in a grin. "Hmm, nope, but I do have a question."
"What?" She sounded much calmer than she felt.
"Doesn't your bow hurt your ears? Your cute little cat ears?" the happy grin morphed into a mischievous one as it awaited the inevitable dumbfounded response.
"H-how did you know?" Amber eyes widened in both amazement and fear. They shot an accusing glance at the blonde brawler standing on the side, watching the exchange. Her jaw hanging open and hands up in surrender.
"Mmmm… not telling, but don't worry, your secret is safe with me. You should really let them out though, it's painful when they are bound for too long."
Blake just nodded dumbly, hands moving to remove the black bow atop her head.
"You're kinda cute, you know that?" Blake's hands stopped, once more Yang's jaw fell to the floor. The faunus's face flushed red. It grew even more intense at the sound of the yellow fighter's laughter.
It took several seconds for her to process through her thoughts enough to properly formulate a response. "Thank you…" her eyes now glued to the floor, the ribbon sliding off her head, it never made it to the floor. Calloused hands caught it.
Amber eyes followed the appendages upward. The hands stretched outward offering the black ribbon to its rightful owner. Mutely, Blake stretched her own hand out. The silky accessory fell into her open hand. Looking up into silver eyes, an apologetic smile was found. For a moment, her mind was lost as the silver eyes drew her in. The trance was broken by a coy whistle from outside the focused view.
"Seems my little sister is quite the lady killer. That's three girls in 8 hours." Yang laughed to herself. "Pretty soon all the girls will be lining up for ya Rubes. Be careful." She continued laughing to herself, Ruby stepped away from Blake with a yawn.
"If you say so, sis." Ruby began ruffling through the bags Weiss had brought. Pulling out some pajamas, she began undressing.
"Woah, woah, woah. Slow down. I know it's dark, but it's not that dark. Besides, I don't think I would be able to pull Blake off ya if she saw your body." Another laugh for Yang, another blush for Blake.
Despite the jovial warning, Ruby continued to undress. She just didn't care. There was nothing wrong with it, they were all girls… and she had been in prison, where it wasn't uncommon to see another nude person. Now only in her underwear, she shook the pajama bottoms out. Just as she put one leg in, the bathroom door opened.
"I'm done, someone else can go no-" Weiss fell through with her statement. She saw a mostly naked Ruby hunched over putting on her the silky white and red pajama bottoms Weiss had bought her. Silver eyes stared for a moment before refocusing on the task at hand. Mouth agape, Weiss looked around the room for answers, but only found averted gazes.
Now pulling the black tank top on, Ruby smiled to herself at the comfortable fabric. It was a pleasant change from the orange, scratchy jumpsuit the prison issued. With a sigh she stretched around a bit, feeling the fabric to its fullest. "Thanks Weiss, they're comfy and fit great."
"Have some shame! You can't just change in the middle of the room while there are others present. That's… that's lewd!" Weiss was red in the face, she had finally come to her senses after being exposed to the shocking display. She had to admit though, Ruby had a nice figure. Wait, no! Weiss Schnee does not like Ruby Rose! Weiss likes males! Men! Not some criminal killer lady with hundreds of deaths to her name! Shaking her head, Weiss stomped over to her bed, grumbling to herself about her orientation.
"Looks like you've confused our Heiress, Rubes." Yang chuckled. "Anyway, the bed dangling dangerously above Weiss's is yours."
"Hmkay, thanks Yang. Good night." A flurry of rose petals followed by the creaking of the hazardous cot trailed Ruby's words. Used to the curfew and strict times of the prison, she was soon out.
"Don't you think it's weird the way she's acting. I mean, she's the Crimson Reaper. A merciless killer with over 300 dead to her name. Yet she's acting like… like some high schooler."
"While it is strange, maybe it's for the best, I mean, would you rather have someone colder than you lead us?"
"Hey!"
"I'm just saying, maybe it won't be so bad."
"You're only saying that because you're hopelessly infatuated with her."
"Oh, and you're not? Face it Ice Queen, she's melted that frozen heart of yours."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You two talking about Ruby?"
"Yes, don't you think it's unnerving the way she acts? She's a murderer, but she seems more like a high school girl."
"Just a bit. She's always been… eccentric."
"What happened to her? Why did she turn to a life of crime, and how can you be so easy with her?"
"Her mother died when she was young. She watched it happen. I wasn't there, I was out with our father. After that, she shut everyone out. We tried to get a therapy dog as an attempt to break young Ruby out of the silent depression she was in, but to no avail. We took her to therapy. Same thing. A shrink. Nothing. Nothing helped her. She stopped eating, it got so bad we had to take her to the hospital when she suddenly collapsed. Her cheeks were hollow and her skin was so pale." Tears began to stream down Yang's face. "After 4 days in the hospital, she was released. She started eating again, but she still didn't talk. We didn't know what to do. She was only about 6. Qrow had heard and thought that maybe she's scared because she couldn't protect herself. He took her under his wing and taught her how to fight. She learned quickly and was considered a prodigy. Years passed, it was her 14th birthday. Gradually, she began talking again. However, even after 8 years, it haunted her. She didn't tell us anything. While she spoke, it was very limited. Anyway, as a gift, Qrow and my dad had gotten her a bunch of weapon parts so she could build her own. That was the first time she smiled in years, but it wasn't a happy smile or a thankful smile. It was a dark and sinister smile. She spent all night building Cresent Rose. When we woke up, she was gone." The brawler's voice began to crack. "That's when the killing began. At first, it was revenge. She killed those that killed Summer. Then anyone associated with them. It spread until it was anyone who had ever had any dealings with them. Then it stopped for awhile. We thought she had been caught or killed. We were wrong. It got worse, now the murders were more frequent. Instead of once a month, it was several a day. The kill count skyrocketed. What she is at now is only the ones the public knows of and what's been found. I believe there's a lot more that have yet to be discovered or disclosed." She took a deep breath. "This went on for years. One day, we got a call from some authority figure saying Ruby had been caught. We couldn't believe it. She had successfully evaded the police for years, it seemed unlikely she would slip up. Turns out, she had turned herself in. She was sent to one of the maximum security prisons and that was the last I heard of her."
Silence filled the early morning air. Everyone was mulling over this new information. Processing it. The still air stretched on for several minutes before Weiss spoke, "Why did she turn herself in?"
Yang shrugged, "I don't kn-"
"Because I got bored. There was no longer a thrill to the kill. No longer a goal or meaning to it. It became dull." All eyes turned to the swaying bunk. Wide in fear. "Good morning." A bedraggled Ruby offered with a smile. She stretched and yawned before hopping off the precarious bed. Everyone else stood frozen. Feeling the uneasiness in the air, she stopped rummaging through the bags and turned to face her team. "I ain't gonna hurt ya. Come on, loosen up." Her words had no affect. "Fine, fine. I guess that was too much to expect." She resumed gathering miscellaneous materials from the bags. "I guess it will take some time for them to get used to this merciless killer." Ruby grumbled to herself as she stood up and walked to the bathroom. Not bothering to close the door, she began getting ready for the day ahead. Brushing her hair and teeth, taking care of other hygiene components, changing out of her pajamas. Wait. The scantily clad Reaper looked around the bathroom, she had forgotten to grab her clothes. With a sigh she walked back out into the main room. "I forgot my clothes." She idly announced as she crossed the room and picked up the articles of clothing she discarded last night. Feeling the eyes on her, she surveyed the room and found two pairs, one amber and one with a scarred twin. With a mischievous smirk she turned to face the onlookers. "You can ogle all you want, but if you wanna touch, you have to take me out first." She winked before returning to the bathroom, closing the door this time.
A raucous laughter boomed from the blonde brawler. "She got you guys good. I'm proud." Two glares fell onto her, but her laughter didn't stop.
The bathroom door opened and out stepped the red leader in her typical outfit. Cresent Rose peeked out from behind her. "Wait, so you can have your weapon, but you can't have a scroll? That's ridiculous." Weiss crossed her arms.
"I know right? But I guess it kind of makes sense, I can't hack into anything or remove this anklet with my baby like I can with a scroll."
"You can't cut the anklet off?"
"Nope, it's some secret compound that's harder than titanium. But in order to keep track of me, there's a computer inside of it. I could use a scroll to take control of the computer and have it release me."
"You know how to do that?" Yang asked in surprise.
"Oh yeah, something I learned that made my life easier." an awkward silence fell heavily upon team RWBY. "Ahem. Right. Anyway, don't you guys have classes? You should get going, it's almost 7."
Yang's eyes widened. She rushed to the door and threw it open. Quickly, she disappeared down the hall. Blake made her way to the shutting door, putting her hand on it to stop it from closing. She turned back and looked at Ruby, a blush crept onto her cheeks. "I'll uh… see you later." With that, the faunus left, leaving Weiss and Ruby.
"You're not coming?" Weiss picked up her binder.
"I could, but class is boring, so I'm gonna hang out in the cafeteria or something."
Weiss nodded curtly, "Stay out of trouble."
"Heheh. Have fun, I'll see you later, alright?" Weiss felt blood rise to her cheeks. She flung open the door and rushed out into the hall, desperate to get away from the Reaper.
Ceasing all at once, the buzzing chatter from seated students in the cafeteria died as a black combat boot stepped in. Clicking of heels on the tiled floor was the only sound. Ruby stepped into line. It was frozen in place for several moments before it suddenly progressed quickly. The cashier was whipping people out, desperate to not keep the unhinged killer waiting. Soon, it was Ruby's turn. "H-h-h-how can I help you?" it was the same cashier as yesterday.
Ruby offered her a charming smile. "Can I get some french toast and three cookies, please?"
The cashier nodded dumbly. She tapped away at the machine and the total popped up on the small display board. "8.55 please." Her eyes looking downward and her hands wringing the apron around her body.
After ruffling through her pockets, Ruby pulled out a 10. "Here you go, thanks for being such a cutie. It really makes this more enjoyable." She winked at the blushing cashier as she extended her hand out.
"Hey! Are you flirting with my girl?" Ruby turned around just in time to see the color drain from a stockily built, tall and muscular, broad headed boy's face. "It's you." His once cocky tone reduced to a meek whisper.
"Hmmm. No, I'm flirting with a girl who may be with you in terms of relationship. But unless you illegally bought such a lovely lady from undoubtedly questionable sources, she's not yours. She's hers. Just as we all are ourselves. Self-ownership does not change based on whether or not someone is in a relationship." Turning back to the cashier, she added, "Don't forget that, alright?" Ruby dropped the bill on the register and walked through, she threw over her shoulder, "Keep the change, honey."
"Miss Crimson Reaper, ma'am. I'm sorry, it won't happen again, I swear!" Eyes shamefully cast downward, the oaf apologized to the oddly kind Crimson Reaper.
Pathetic, at least her relationship will be better. Even if the brute won't stand up for her. Ruby took her food from the counter, a grimace on her face. Due to the population of the students body, there were no places at the tables where one could sit alone. It was not necessarily elbow-to-elbow cramped, but there was not enough space between cliques where an outlier, such as herself, could sit awkwardly alone. Closing her eyes, the red-cloaked girl breathed deeply before opening them as she exhaled. Time for an odd conversation.
By now, the cafeteria was alive with buzzing conversation, as it should be. While it was not quite the cacophony one would expect of a room filled with young adults with food, it was still pretty vibrant. So vibrant, the hardened killer barely noticed her name being called. Curious silver eyes scanned the lunchroom looking for the possible source. On the far side, towards the back was a waving rabbit faunus. A pleasant smirk dawned on the Reaper's lips. She crossed the room to her friend.
"Are you sure about this Vel? I mean, this is the Crimson Reaper we're talking about. She did give a nice speech, and help you out, but she's still a notorious killer." Coco watched as her friend and teammate waved over to what could only be the subject of their one-sided conversation.
"Caution is a wise ally." Yatsuhashi added.
Finally satisfied with her flagging down the new leader, Velvet sat down with her team. "I know, I know, but she really helped me out back there and I think this is the least I can do to sort of repay her."
"Alright, I'm with you Velvs. If she tries anything though, I'm putting her in the ground." The firey fashionista loved her team like family, and nobody messes with family.
"Duly noted. Ruby Rose, nice to meet ya." Ruby set her tray down next across from Velvet. She extended her hand across the table towards the shocked leader of CFVY. Coco dumbly returned the gesture. "You must be the leader, Coco Adel. Aside from being a model and fashion designer you are also a formidable huntress with strong ties to your friends." Finishing the hand shake, Ruby sat down. She turned her attention to Velvet, "Thanks for letting me sit with you. Shockingly enough, I don't have many friends here."
"It's the least I could do after all you did for me yesterday, thank you again for helping me." Velvet was the only member of her team not stunned into silence.
"It's not a problem, ironically I just did the right thing. I say ironically because, well, my reputation." Ruby chuckled to herself. A movement in her peripheral caught her attention. "You must be Yatsuhashi." She fixed her silver gaze on the giant. "The quiet giant. I have some respect for you. With your stature and natural strength, you could easily do as you please and come out pretty unscathed, but instead you are a gentle giant with a distinct love for harmony." This time, the entirety of CFVY was silent. "That leaves Fox. While not actually a faunus, his keen senses are above a regular human's. So much in fact, that despite being blind you can pinpoint a target's location without sight."
An eerie air had spread through the group, in the meantime, Ruby dipped her french toast. Every so often, in between bites, she would look up and smile an innocent and childish smile. A chill went down Coco's back. "How do you know so much? I mean, weren't you in a maximum security cell?"
This brought Velvet out of her reverie, "Coco!" she glanced apologetically at Ruby, "Sorry."
"It's no worries, I don't mind." Ruby looked to Coco, "I was in solitary confinement in a maximum security prison, yes. As to how I know so much, well. People are interesting. Even more so those that devote their life to protecting others. Mind if I tell you a story?"
No one argued against it, truth be told, everyone was interested in what the Crimson Reaper has to share.
"Cassandre "Cassie" Leavenheart. Age 33. Anti-Faunus Rights Movement Leader. At a young age, her biological parents died. She was taken in by a loving faunus couple, and despite her not having any faunus blood in her, loved her unconditionally. On her 20th birthday, she killed those loving parents of hers. Even beyond their dying breath did they love her. She was caught and tried, she pleaded grief stricken and got off with an early sentence given her childhood. She started that heinous campaign against faunus. I won't tell you her last words, but know that she wasn't sorry."
Ruby let the idle chatter of others fill in her void for a moment as she collected her thoughts. "How is this relevant? Well, you can't honestly judge someone without knowing then thoroughly. I have more kills to my name than what the record says. I also have some things that the record doesn't say. I saved thousands. Not by killing others, but by choosing not to kill. I spared the man who cured multi-cardioadrenal failure. While a wanted man for his inane experimentation, he saves hundreds a day with his medication even though he is locked up. If I had killed him when I had him pinned, it wouldn't be possible. These two stories are more alike than you think. The man I let go also lost his parents, but to a disease. His illegal research that killed dozens was driven by legitimate grief and sorrow."
Ruby ate the remainder of her french toast before continuing, "If I had not known these people's pasts, I would have made the wrong decision. Cassandre could have led to the enslavement of Faunus kind, but because I knew she was raised by loving Faunus parents, I killed her. The man, he knew what he did, but he did it out of unbridled sorrow. If I had not known the connection, I would have pulled the trigger and thus, indirectly kill thousands more. In short, know if your enemy is really an enemy." The Crimson Reaper took a sip from her Milk carton.
"That's… a pretty legit answer." Coco mused, her tone was wistful and thoughtful.
"Isn't it though?" Velvet added, her tone matching her leader's.
"Now I got a question." Ruby bit into one of her cookies.
"What's that?" Coco asked, sitting back and folding her arms. She looked over her classic glasses with curiosity in her eyes.
"How long have you and Velvet been dating, or how long have you and Velvet been secretly wanting to be dating?" A mischievous smile devilishly crept onto the red-cloaked leader's face.
The respective faces lit up. Yatsuhashi let out a single deep laugh. Fox grinned, "She got you good."
2 minutes passed by in silence as Velvet and Coco matched Ruby's cloak and avoided looking at anything other than the very interesting floor.
"3 years." It was barely a whisper. Coco, the proud leader who would glare down death, meekly admitting her secret relationship to a relative stranger. "3 years." this time there was confidence and pride in her voice.
While Velvet was still blushing, her hand found Coco's. Ruby let a genuine smile grace her lips. "Have fun in class you guys. Thanks for letting me sit with you." She gathered all the trays and trash into a pile. The bell sounded as she vanished in a whirlwind of falling rose petals.
"That was… fun." The leader of CFVY voiced everyone's thoughts as they made their way to their class. Her fingers still entwined with the rabbit faunus's.