"You overdid it didn't you little Sis?" Yang whispered as she knelt down beside Ruby, the younger sister passed out on the floor in a mess scrap metal, tools, Dust and cloth. The smell of oil and sweat mingled with the hot, dry air evoking memories of a distant past from their days not long after they ran away from home as children.
With a warm smile she tenderly brushed aside Ruby's red tipped bangs. The steady sound of her rhythmic breathing along with the slight rise and fall of her chest was beginning to wear down Yang, she could feel her own eyelids growing heavy from pulling an all nighter keeping watch. Still, with a gentle shake of her head she banished her sleepiness. Ruby was working hard, I'll let her sleep a little longer.
"The things you put me through…" A hushed giggle escaped her as she glanced out the shattered window, the early morning sun peeked over the rolling sand dunes and she could already feel the air heating up. Beneath her hand she felt Ruby moving, curling up into a ball on the dusty hardwood floors, grumbling quietly in her sleep much to the amusement of her big sister who found it unbearably cute.
With a soft sigh she brushed her own hair back as she bent over, keeping one hand on the floor and the other holding back her hair as her lips touched Ruby's soft warm cheek, her little sister giving a small hum of satisfaction from deep within her dreams.
"I love you Ruby." Yang whispered as she reluctantly pulled away, wanting nothing more than to curl up around the beautiful young woman and doze off with her little sister in her arms, holding her close… But I have work to do.
With a frustrated sigh she forced herself back to her feet, giving one last lingering look at her sleeping girlfriend before turning to the door. It had been a long, uneventful night and she was feeling the fatigue of staying up through all of it to keep watch. Giving a long, refreshing stretch she stepped out of the abandoned building her sister slept in and stepped back into the desert, hot sand blew around in the early morning wind.
The ghost town that was once Gypsum Town was desolate and crumbling, not a sound other than the tepid wind could be heard from any direction, still she knew that the children were asleep safe and sound in the cool basement below the building across from the one Ruby slept in. Her eyes wandered over the town as she walked down the unsettlingly ruined town. The idea that people still lived here baffled her, the fact that those children had survived this long was nothing shy of a miracle.
Still, we need to get them out of here as soon as we can… As she got lost in her own head she made her way towards the still functioning well that was fed by an underground aquifer that had been poisoned by a new SDC mine a few towns over. Their purifiers helped but the children were still very sick, especially the youngest. Aurum and Arge were more well off but still malnourished and still only children themselves, even if they were the oldest occupants of this run down place.
"The heat, the poisoned water, the lack of food, bandits… the Grimm, those kids will all be dead sooner or later. Unlocking their auras, teaching them to fight and giving them new weapons is a good start but they'll need a lot more than that if they're going to get out of his place alive." She was murmuring to herself as she did when she was stressed and Ruby wasn't around to hear her worry. Even so she pumped up the water, drawing it forth from deep below the ground before with a mechanical pump, each up and down motion pulling more water up as it filled their filtration bottle.
Besides Aurum and Arge, none of those kids are well enough to make the treck through the desert back to Shade to get medical attention… if they'd get any at all. Yang finished filling half the bottle before screwing the other half on top of it with a filter in between, tilting it upside down she let gravity do the work. We have a lot of resources that can help them but it would take calling in some favors that we've stored up over the years. Still, I want to help them.
"I'll talk this over with Ruby when she wakes up, while we keep the brats busy with sparring practice." Yang smirked at the prospect of teaching them how to fight. I don't know if I'm much of a teacher, Ruby would probably be their favorite, she's nice, but I like a tough love approach.
"Alright, guess it's time to wake them up." She gave the bottle a little shake before doing an about-face, walking briskly back to the dilapidated cabin where the children slept. It looked like Ruby made a lot of progress on their new weapons… she's really into this if she gave up her-
"Oh, you're awake." Yang blinked in surprise as the young siblings stepped outside looking pretty groggy from the sleep they seemed to have just woken up from. The brother and sister stood outside, their eyes on Yang, both looking confused for a moment before the events of yesterday dawned on the sleepy brains.
"Good morning Yang." Arge smiled, rubbing her blear eyes, beside her Aurum stretched.
"Morning! Didn't expect to see you two up this early, that's good, we can get started soon. Here, it's important to stay hydrated." With a smirk Yang tossed the water bottle at the boy, snapping him into alertness as hre fumbled with it, desperately grabbing at it before he finally got a good grip on it, clutching it tight in one hand with a sigh of relief.
"Yeah, we get up pretty early, we have to be ready in case anything happens or anyone comes through town that we can rob since travelers usually move around the desert at dusk and dawn when it's not too hot or too dark." He tipped the bottle back, gulping down the clean water, quenching his dry throat before passing the nearly half finished bottle to his younger sister.
"Makes sense." Yang smiled as she walked up to them, leaning on the building beside the children she dwarfed. Folding her arms over her chest and putting one boot back against the wooden wall Yang looked to the cabin across from them, where Ruby slept.
"Um… can I ask you a personal question?" Aurum stammered nervously as he kicked the sand beneath him, shrinking away from Yang while his sister looked wearily from him to the woman that had helped them, sensing a tension that Yang was oblivious to.
"Sure kid, I'm an open book." Yang smiled amiably but she had a sinking suspicion that it was the one topic she wasn't comfortable telling a fourteen and thirteen year old about.
"Well… it's just… what exactly are you and Ruby to each other and why are you helping us so much?" The young boy summoned up his courage and forced himself to look at the woman with the stunning lilac eyes.
"Aurum! You shouldn't ask things like that!" Arge growled, jabbing at him with her elbow.
"No-no, it's fine… the answer to both of those… well, it's complicated to say the least, but I guess she wouldn't mind if I went ahead and told you both." Yang held out her hand, signaling for Arge to pass her the water which she took her time drinking, trying to frantically sort her thoughts and trying to navigate what to tell them and how to tell it. Oh fuck it, I'll just say what's up.
"Well, where to start… I guess I'll answer that first part of your question. Ruby and I, we're sisters, well, half sisters, I'm also two years older. Still, you could say our relationship isn't typical, hell it's probably really messed up depending on who you ask but we don't care. I love Ruby and she loves me, as long as we're together we don't give a fuck what people think." Her soft laugh held a bitterness of contempt as she thought back to the hate they got for their relationship… it stung, and seeing how hurt and confused it made her little sister when it happened only made it more painful to recall.
"Anyway, as to why we're helping you," She quickly jumped subject, not wanting to even hear what the kids thought about what she blurted out. "Well, that has a lot to do with our own past. It's a long story but Ruby's still asleep so she won't have your weapons to you for a while longer. If you want, I can tell you about us, a story to pass the time."
"I'd like to hear your story Yang." Arge looked up to the woman with wonder and curiosity in her hazel eyes while her older brother looked at Yang expectantly, patiently waiting for her story to begin.
"Alright, so here it is…" She took a long, deep breath. It had been so long since they told their story to anyone but she saw so much of their younger selves in these children... and with what Ruby was doing for them, she figured a story was the least she could give.
"I was fifteen and Ruby was only thirteen at the time, we weren't much older than you two. I was training to become a Huntress and so was Ruby, we were both in Signal Academy in Vale, where we're both originally from. Our father, my mother, Ruby's mother, and our uncle Qrow were all Huntsmen and Huntresses and they were all on the same team together. But… my mom left not long after I was born, and then my Dad remarried Summer Rose, Ruby's mother. Not long after I got a little sister. Then… one day, Summer left on a mission and- and she never came back. It was devastating to all of us, especially our Dad. Ruby was hurt but she was still really young so I don't think she really understood what was going on. I stepped in and did everything I could to fill the void our mom had left behind when she died. I was whatever Ruby needed me to be; a mom, a sister, a friend, I took care of her." Yang's voice trembled, the pain of a loss so very long ago was still like a fresh wound in her heart. Still, she carried on.
"After a while, things became sort of normal. Ruby and I wanted nothing more than to become Huntresses like our parents and uncle so we trained hard and went to a combat prep school with the hopes of getting into Beacon. I was in it for the adventure, Ruby, it's what she always wanted, she wanted to be a Huntress because that's just who she was. Then… that night changed everything for us." A chill ran down her spine and she hugged herself just a little tighter, wishing more than anything that her sister was by her side.
"It was a night just like any other. Our dad was away on a short mission so Ruby and I had the house to ourselves. We decided that with no supervision that it would be a fun idea to stay up all night and watch scary movies. I made us snacks and brought out the blanket and the two of us watched the movie together. Ruby was scared, so was I but we comforted each other and kept watching… and then came a knock at the door. I think, as soon as I heard that knock, a small part of me knew, it was so familiar, like when our mom died. Just a knock at the door in the middle of the night. Still, how could that be true? Of course I was over thinking it, so I went to check who it was… it was Professor Ozpin, the headmaster at Beacon."
"He- he told us… our Dad's mission, something went wrong." Terror and heartbreak permeated in her words so profoundly that it made the children beside her feel just a fraction of what she felt… and it was devastatingly painful.
"Our Dad, the last family we really had, was gone… he died on his mission, just like Ruby's mom. Just like that, we were all alone in a broken, terrifying, cruel world. Ruby was broken, she didn't stop crying for days, so much that she strained her throat and couldn't even whimper after a while. As for me… I just shut down, blocked all of it out and never once left Ruby's side. I had to be there for her, I had to be strong for her, I had to take care of her… that's what I thought anyway, my younger self was pretty stupid huh? It wasn't until after the funeral that Ruby finally broke through to me. It was Ruby that pulled me out of my denial and made me face and accept what happened, she did that, even though she knew it would hurt she knew it was what I needed. Turns out, she was the one being strong for me. I cried, I let it all out, I felt so much so powerful it felt like it would have ripped me apart, but she stayed by my side the whole time, holding me while I cried, staying by my side and comforting me the best she could… it was a long night." She closed her eyes, she could remember it so vividly and with terrifying clarity.
"I'm sorry you went through all of that… our parents are gone too so I kinda know how you feel." Aurum breathing quickened as his own repressed feelings began to bubble up and as he felt his world collapsing around him, a small hand held his. His sister by his side, an anchor in a broken world he was lost in.
"After that, Ruby and I ran away from home and eventually became the us we are today; a far cry from the heroes we envisioned ourselves being when we were younger. We did what we had to do to survive and those weren't always good things. It changed us and made us who we are. So that's it, that's why we're here and why we're helping you. Me and Ruby are Freelancers, we do whatever we have to do to get by. Here you both are, two kids, older brother and younger sister, about the age we were when we left home. You both have no parents and are out in a big hostile world that could swallow you up at any moment and there would be no one who would miss you when you're gone; we empathize." With a shaky inhale Yang stepped forward from the wall, letting her hands fall to her sides.
"Alright, story time's over, time to get to work." Her tone was stern and serious as she faced the children, her gaze hard and piercing. The two scrawny children who had only unlocked their auras the night before were hardly formidable warriors capable of fending off the Grimm… Yet.
"Ruby's up." Arge said simply as she tilted her head at the exhausted looking woman who stepped out of the neighbouring building.
"Morning…" Ruby grumbled sleepily yawning deeply as she made her way to them, her cape missing from her back.
"Well good morning sleeping beauty, figured you'd be out of it for a while with how much you got done last night." Yang giggled, nudging her sister with her elbow, Ruby however looked less amused.
"Sand got in my face…" She deadpanned, mentally cursing the desert. "Anyway, I've finished your weapons if you want to see them and start training."
"Eee!" Arge squealed excitedly before her cheeks burned with an embarrassed blush, her hands slapping over her mouth. All eyes were drawn to the young girl before Yang let out a snort of laughter while Ruby only smiled at her.
"I know! Isn't getting a new weapon so exciting! For a Huntress, a Freelancer or anyone who fights with aura, our weapons are an extension of ourselves! Normally you would both design your own weapons and I'd make them based on your desired specifications but given the limited materials available, I just worked with what I had."
"It's okay Sis, I'm sure you did great!" Yang gave a big toothy grin and and an encouraging thumbs up before turning back to the kids. "You might not believe it by looking at her but aside from being one of the baddest badasses out there, Ruby is also one of the best weapon smiths in the world. She was trained by someone who's the go to for anyone looking for a weapon on the black market."
"Aww Sis don't say things like that it's embarrassing." Ruby blushed, rubbing the back of her head as she smiled bashfully, but Yang could tell she was eating up the praise.
"Well anyway, here." With an excited smile Ruby reached for her back and pulled out the first of their weapons from her backpack. "This one is yours Aurum."
His eyes grew wide as he looked at the weapon she had made him. It was a revolver… a big one! The wheel in the middle loaded with red and gold shotgun shells and at the butt of the gun was a large and imposing axe blade cut off into a blunt, flat end where it would rest on his wrist while firing. The whole thing was painted yellow and black.
"I'm really pleased with how this one came out and given my working conditions and resources it's probably my best work; The Semi-automatic Revolver Shotgun Battle Axe!" A very pleased smirk pulled at her lips as she gripped the handle of the revolver axe tight and with a hard tug down and a subtle flick of her thumb the handle extended and the barrel of the gun retracted while the blade at the back jutted out its other pointed at the base where it was once flat. It was suddenly a very different weapon standing taller than the boy who would wield it with a blade larger than his head.
"I had to use parts from both guns to make this work and I had to change out the shells to something with more kick, thank Yang for that ammo, it was hers from her old weapon. Anyway, it's really cool, it can still fire in battle axe mode with this little button down here," She pointed motioned with her thumb over the little gray button. "Anyway, feel free to hit your target with either end, the parts are very sturdy. Hitting with the shotgun end will trigger one of the rounds to go off letting loose a pretty big bang while if you hit with the other end you can use the recoil from the shotgun end while firing to add more momentum and force to your swing with the axe!"
"Wow…" All three onlookers said at once, gawking at the weapon she crafted and held so proudly and triumphantly.
"Here, it might be a bit heavy for you at first but you'll grow into it." She smiled brightly, retracting the long handle back in until it was just the grip of the revolver once again, the bottom tip also retracted back until it was flat at the bottom and the barrel extended back out. Grabbing it by the barrel she nonchalantly handed it over to him.
"T-thank you!" His eyes were fixated on his new weapon as he reached out for it, mesmerized. However, as soon as his fingers wrapped around the handle, Ruby released it with a smile and the boy nearly fell to the ground as she dropped the heavy weapon.
"Don't worry kid, I'll help you, I'll show you a good workout routine and show you how you can use your aura to give you more strength." Yang laughed as she slapped his back, nearly causing him to topple over again.
"Now, Arge, I made something special for you. It was hard but I hope you like it." Ruby's voice became more gentle as she knelt down to the little girl's eye level.
"Here, I want you to have this." With a warm smile Ruby reached behind and pulled out a long red cape, cut short across the middle to fit the smaller girl. Silvery white now colored the red fabric in an roughly arcane pattern.
"This is your cape…" Arge looked from the cape to the woman presenting it to her.
"Yes, I want you to have it now. It's your weapon. I combined Ice Dust into the fabric, it will react to your aura and you'll be able to use magic. It's hard to control but with practice you'll get it."
"Sis, you're really giving away your cape?" Yang's arms fell to her sides, a look of worry and disbelief in her eyes, but Ruby simply smiled back at her.
"I can buy a new one and they need it way more than me… besides, I have a soft spot for these two. You gave away the shells for your Ember Celica that you've been carrying around for almost decade so you can't say you don't have a soft spot for them too." A light blush tinted Yang's cheeks and with a sigh she shrugged her shoulders, smiling wistfully as Ruby presented Arge with her weapon.
"Dust stitching is a very ancient art that very few today know how to do. It was taught to me by someone who took good care of us and taught me almost everything I know. It's a very unique weapon and once you learn how to control it, you'll be a force to be reckoned with. Just promise to keep your hot headed big brother out of trouble okay?" Her smile brightened as she gently put her hand atop the little girl's head.
"I will!" Arge gave a firm nod, her hazel eyes burned with fierce conviction and gratitude as she accepted the cape, pinning it to her dress at her shoulders. The red and silver white cape flowed behind her in the hot wind and as Yang stared at her, she saw another little red caped girl that had that same spark of strength and passion in her eyes.
"Come on, let's give you both a crash course on how to fight." Yang shook her head lightly and with a soft exhale she got rid of her nostalgic melancholy.
"Sounds good, Arge, I'll show you how to use Dust while Yang teaching your brother how to hit things." Ruby giggled as she stood up, motioning with her head for the girl to follow her.
The four of them walked to the far side of town, Yang and Ruby's heart warm with contentment as they held each other's hands. We can do for these kids what we had to do for ourselves… a second chance.
