AN/ Hello once again and welcome to the next chapter of 'Shrouded Truth'. If you haven't already, check out my new story, 'LNZZ: Misfits' and give me some feedback please. Not too much to say today, so let's get to the chapter!
"Ruby, wait." Blake grabbed Ruby, pulling her close as more White Fang ran by.
"Thanks Blake, there isn't much more to search." Ruby stood up, followed by Blake. Moving to the far back of the building, the dark colored duo stopped and hid.
"Two guards on one door, he has to be in there. But I hear someone else in there." Ruby said as she crouched behind a crate.
"I recognize that voice, but where do I know it from?" Blake was confused by how familiar the voice was.
"Well, we know where he is, let's get him out." Ruby drew her weapon while Blake nodded and followed suit. Speeding out from her hiding spot, Ruby unfurled her scythe, and took one of the two guards with her and disappeared down the hall. Before he could react, the other was wrapped in the black ribbon of Gambol Shroud, and suddenly dragged back towards Blake. Knocking the guard out, Blake stacked on the door with Ruby on the other side.
"Ready?" Blake racked the slide before setting it to full auto.
"Ready." Ruby quickly stepped back and swung her scythe at the door, knocking the door open. Blake stepped in front, sweeping across the room before noticing Qrow kneeling on the ground.
"Qrow, are you alright?" Ruby asked, kneeling down to untie him.
"I'm alright kiddo, but watch out." Qrow warned. Suddenly Blake shoved the two away as a red blade dug into the space where they were.
"Couldn't keep your mouth shut, could you Branwen." Adam spoke, annoyed. "And you brought her right to me, really I should be thanking you. Now, I can end the last of your family right here."
Blake quickly stepped in, blocking Adam from Ruby and Qrow. Ruby hurriedly undid the ropes and helped her uncle up.
"Blake, get Ruby out of here. Ruby, give me your scythe." Qrow demanded.
"But uncle Qrow, we can help!" Ruby argued as she jumped in to support Blake.
"Ruby, I don't want to risk losing you, I made a promise to your mother that I would protect you, now go." Ruby quickly conceded, shoving Blake out the door before tossing her scythe to Qrow and running.
"Thats right little one, do as your great uncle says." Adam taunted before turning back to the experienced huntsman.
"You know that you are outmatched, right?" Qrow asked, twirling the scythe to get a feel for the weight.
"Perhaps, but maybe you are the one who is outmatched." Adam sheathed his sword once more.
"Then let's find out." Qrow took off immediately, launching a flurry of attacks at Adam.
* Ruby and Blake *
"Why wouldn't your uncle let us fight?" Blake asked, confused.
"I don't know, but we need to find his scythe so I can fight." Ruby replied, as she searched for the great sword that was Qrow's weapon. Suddenly, Yang burst through the wall.
"Is that all you got?!" Yang roared as she leapt back into the fight.
"Blake, help them, I can find his weapon." Ruby ordered as she continued her search. Blake dived into the fight seamlessly while Ruby continued. Searching all of the rooms once more, Ruby finally found his scythe. Taking it and using her semblance, Ruby made it back to her uncle.
"You know she'll learn the truth someday on her own, so why hide it?" Adam asked, taunting Qrow more.
"You wouldn't understand, now quit talking and fight!" Adam swung hard, almost breaking Adam's guard.
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby sped into the room, throwing Qrow his weapon to him. Trading weapons, the two scythe wielders now holding their own in a fighting stance.
"I thought I told you to go with your friend." Qrow asked before locking blades with the bull faunus.
"I kinda needed my scythe, and you had it." Ruby remarked before joining the fight. Adam was now heavily relying on his defense, using Blush as a second block. Qrow suddenly ducked underneath Wilt and swiped at Adam's feet. Breaking the lock, Adam jumped back, but was forced to bring his weapons up to block a swipe at his chest from Ruby.
"As touching as this is, I'm sorry to say that this little family moment has to stop." Adam swung hard at Ruby, only to be blocked by Qrow's scythe, and be pulled back, throwing off his balance. Ruby quickly went for his exposed stomach. Hitting him hard, Adam staggered back.
"I have to say, you two fight so similar, it's almost like fath-" Qrow quickly cut him off with the end of his scythes shaft. "What's the matter Qrow, got something to hide?" Qrow then realized he had been backed into a wall with no way to escape.
"Qrow, what is he talking about?" Ruby asked, looking to him with questioning eyes.
"Whats wrong, bird got your tongue? Why don't you go ask Arthur, I'm sure he would love to meet the daughter of the woman he killed." Adam said with a smirk. Ruby's eyes widened at this new information.
"Ruby, don't listen to him, I will finish this, go help your friends, they need it." Qrow demanded. Ruby looked conflicted, but eventually left to help her team. "You're a monster."
"Am I? I'm not denying my own child the truth, I think you are the monster here." Adam smirked before he was knocked out.
* Team RWBY *
"Yang, throw me!" Ruby shouted, before being thrown at Timber. Hooking around him, Ruby took him off of his feet and threw him into a wall, stopping herself on a glyph.
"Freezerburn!" Ruby shouted, followed by another smoke cloud. Before he could react, Arthur felt multiple weapons press into him before they fired.
"Are we clear?" Weiss asked as she tried to catch her breath.
"I think so." Blake said as she looked around at the pile of dead or unconscious White Fang, with two of their leaders unconscious.
"Looks like you four really cleaned up out here, ready to go?" Qrow asked as he stepped into the main room, Adam tied up and thrown over his shoulder.
"Yep! I was actually about to call the pilot back." Ruby spoke cheerily.
"Alright squirt, go ahead and call them back here, I'll make sure our guest is ready to go." Qrow shifted Adam's weight before setting him down. Stepping out, Ruby began to call the pilot. "Blake, was it? Come with me for a moment please."
Surprised, Blake followed, wondering what the hunter could possibly need of her.
"Listen, I need to ask a favor of you, and please don't say anything to anyone about it, understand?" Blake could only nod. "Good. Look, Ruby is going to go through something that might be, difficult, for her to understand. I need you to be there for her, ok? I won't say what it is, but she may shut down, she might be angry, she might be depressed, just be there for her, alright?"
"I, I don't really understand, but, alright, I will." Blake assured, but sounded unsure of the entire thing.
"Thank you, now get back to your friends, I have a little clean up to do." Qrow walked past and took Arthur into a back room.
"What was that about?" Yang asked.
"Nothing, just being protective of Ruby." Blake half lied.
"Makes sense. Ruby has always been the one that they were worried about. Come on, I packed some food, have some." Yang offered some of her jerky. Taking some, Blake waited for Ruby to come back.
AN/ And done with another chapter! Getting to the reveal, how do you think it will go? Will Qrow end up dead, will Ruby drown her sorrows in cookies and milk? Who knows! Again, if you haven't already, please check out my new story. Until next time, have a great day!