Justice is Served
Both Teams RWBY and JNPR sat in RWBY's dorm room, all playing a rousing round of Remnant: The Game. Since only four people could play at once, they were divided up into teams of two.
"...well, that's my turn," Yang said. She was currently teamed up with Nora this game. "Your turn, Rubes."
Ruby grinned, scanning the card in her hand. For obvious reasons, she and Jaune were playing together. After quickly showing them to Jaune- who nodded- she played a card. "I'll play this, which lets me pick a random card from one of your hands. And I chose…." She scanned each of the others pairs, eventually settling on Pyrrha and Ren. "...yours." Reluctantly, Pyrrha held out her cards for Ruby to pick one.
"You're taking this awfully well," Weiss pointed out. "You know, considering you believe your father's going to kill Jaune."
"Actually...yeah, you are," it suddenly dawned on Yang. She laid her and Nora's card down and leaned forward, placing the back of her hand on Ruby's forehead. "You feeling OK, sis?"
"I'm fine, Yang!" She swatted her sister's hand away before adding her newest acquisition to her hand. "Look, I've got it all figured out; Dad's not going to kill Jaune when he gets here."
"Oh? And how exactly do you figure that?"
"Yeah, you seemed pretty distraught earlier when he called," Blake pointed out. She currently held the cards for her and Weiss.
"It's simple; Dr. Nightengale said I'd start getting more emotional around now, so I just overreacted to him saying he'd be coming here to see us," she explained. "Besides, he didn't actually say he was going to kill anyone, so he's probably just feeling a little lonely and wanted to come visit." After moving her pieces around the board she continued, "So instead of a 'say goodbye to Jaune' party, we can just hang out and have fun!" It really was the more likely scenario and not just the fact that she was secretly hoping against hope that her dad wouldn't be so…"dad" when he got here. Until then, Ruby was determined to keep a happy face for the sake of her friends, sister, and boyfriend, not necessarily in that order.
"Well, that's certainly good news," Pyrrha said. She sounded genuinely relieved by the news. "I don't know what the rest of us would do without our Team Leader."
"Psh, we'd be fine!" Nora waved dismissively as as she rolled the dice, "I mean, it's not like we switch to some new leader and just completely forget the old one! We're not mean like that, we'd still totally-! Uh. Pyrrha?"
"Yes, Nora?"
She pointed to the cards her teammate was holding. "...I think they're already dead."
For some reason Pyrrha was smiling faintly, acting like she wasn't totally crushed her cards.
"I don't know what you mean," she said cordially, still smiling.
"Well, I hope you're right about this," Yang sighed, "because I personally don't wanna see Dad angry again; the last time was more than enough."
"...what happened last time?" Ren asked slowly.
She turned to the gunslinger of JNPR. "I was still pretty young at the time, so I don't really remember a lot of the specifics. What I do remember is sitting with Uncle Qrow and Ruby in our dad's room while he yelled at someone downstairs." She rubbed her shoulder, "Up to that point I'd never even heard him raise his voice; it was scarier than- ...something else that happened recently."
When she finished there was an awkward silence that hung over the group.
"I understand," he said, after which he busies himself with free the cards for Pyrrha's iron grip.
"Anyway, that's my turn," Ruby said, trying to lighten the mood again, "And don't worry, Yang, Dad didn't sound mad when he called, so I think everything's gonna be fine!" She passed the dice to Weiss and Blake.
"I'm glad someone feels that way," Jaune spoke up, looking a little unsure, "I've felt like someone's walking over my grave and stomping on it."
Ruby leaned back and gave Jaune a small kiss. "Well, I'll be right here to protect you, so you don't have to worry about anything!"
"Aren't they sweet?" asked Pyrrha, her eyebrow twitching a little.
"Oh, totally!" a new voice said from the doorway, "Reminds me a little bit of Summer, actually."
Ruby couldn't control the squeak that involuntarily escaped her mouth.
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
This is bad, this is really, really, really, REALLY bad! went through Ruby's mind upon seeing her father standing in the doorway, Why is he here? Does he know? Oh gawd, I really hope he's only here to remind me and Yang to wear clean underwear….
"Dad?" she and Yang exclaimed in unison.
"You're here...early?" she pointed out.
Taiyang chuckled. "Well, after I talked with you two yesterday I just couldn't wait to see you again.
"And boy, are my arms tired from the flight over, let me tell you!" He said this to the group at large, punctuating the corny statement with finger guns.
While everyone else sent blank stares the Huntsman's way, Ruby couldn't help but chuckle nervously at the joke. "Yeah, heh heh...good one, Dad…." To the side Yang and Weiss face palmed.
"Anyway," he continued, tossing the rucksack he was holding onto Weiss and Ruby's bunk bed as he stepped into the room, "what've you been up to since the Vytal Festival; eating right, keeping up with your grades, making sure to wear clean underwear?"
"Uh, I've-"
"Letting some punk knock you up?"
Whatever response she had died a very quick death under Taiyang's piercing gaze.
Fortunately Jaune stepped between her and her father, saving her from coming up with an excuse in the spot. (She thought she'd have more time before he got here to think of something.) "Look, Mr. Xiao-Long-"
Whatever Jaune was going to say died a quick death when, faster than any of them could make out, Taiyang grabbed hold of Jaune's shirt and tossed him into the wall next to the bunks.
"...well?" he asked like he hadn't just launched Jaune aside like it was nothing, "I'm waiting, young lady."
She gulped. "Um, uh…."
"Who was it?"
Ruby hopes she wasn't sweating as much as it felt like she was. She never kept secrets from her dad (she used to blab about what "surprise" she and Yang got him for his birthday), and the pressure of one as big as this was only magnified by Taiyang's expectant look; she could only endure so much before her resolve began to crack.
"...i-it wasn't his fault, OK?" she blurted out as Team JNPR went to check on their fallen leader, "I was the one who ask if we could…'make love', I wasn't seduced or taken advantage of-"
"What's his name?"
Gulp again.
"It was Sun Wukong," Weiss suddenly spoke up, stepping in front of her team leader defensively, "he's this Faunus rapscallion from Haven who refuses to wear a shirt properly-"
A pillow to the side of her head cut Weiss off.
"Stop being so disrespectful!" Blake shouted, the one who threw said pillow. She turned to Taiyang, "It was a boy called Neptune Vasillias, Mr. Xiao-Long. Ruby fell for his charm-"
"You leave my boyfriend out if this, Belladonna!" Weiss shrieked. She grabbed the pillow Blake tree at her and tossed it back, only for Blake to dodge out of the way at the last second. It instead flew into Yang, who ripped it off her face and glared angrily at her two teammates, her eyes turning red.
"Will both of you stop trying to throw each others' boyfriend under the bus?" she demanded, "I can't believe you two pick now of all times to be so petty!"
Both girls had the good sense to look ashamed at their recent actions.
"Anyway, Dad," Yang turned back to her father, her eyes returning to their normal lilac, "the boy you want is Cardin Winchester-"
"Guys!" Jaune called from the bed, finally returning to consciousness. "You can stop now."
Ruby looked over at the scraggly Huntsman in training, tears welling up in her eyes: she knew exactly what Jaune was going to do.
"Jaune, please, just let us handle this," she pleaded, "You guys should probably go back to your room, we'll…we'll..." She couldn't think of a good argument for JNPR to get a head start.
"I appreciate it," he said, "but I should own up to my actions." He hopped off the bed and walked up to Taiyang, putting an arm around Ruby's shoulder. He spoke with confidence, "Mr. Xiao-Long, Ruby and I love each other, and we decided to express it physically. I understand if you don't approve of her doing that, but neither of us can really take it back, especially now that she's pregnant. And personally, I want be there for her and our kid." She couldn't remember him being unashamedly steadfast before, and Ruby couldn't help but swoon a little at the sentiment. "So, whatever you're going say to me, go ahead. I've said my piece."
"Man, Jaune suddenly grew a pair," she heard Yang whisper, and she couldn't rightly disagree.
"Oh, I want to punch you, kid," Taiyang said, cracking his knuckles, "not talk; talking doesn't make you wish you never thought about touching my daughter."
"Dad, please!" This was bad, like, really bad; pretty much the very thing she worried would happen was currently coming to pass in about the way she imagined it would. She moved between Jaune and her dad.
"Sweetie, Daddy just needs to beat this kid up within an inch of his life, and then we can all go out to El Pizza Bandito's, my treat. Wadaya say?"
It was clear that Taiyang wasn't going to back down from wanting to hurt Jaune. Yang probably realized this already, hence why she didn't get involved more than she already had, but Ruby wasn't going to give up; she loved Jaune, and she wasn't going to let anyone, including her father, take him away from her and her child. In lieu of answering her father's question, she wrapped her arms around the scraggly, blonde Huntsman. "I'm not leaving him," she told her dad, "and I'm not letting you hurt him either!"
"Young lady-!" He was cut off as she continued.
"And if do, I'll, I'll…." She struggled get her next words out. "...I'll run away with Jaune and you'll never see your grandkid!"
This drew gasps from everyone in the room, including Taiyang.
"Um...that seems a little drastic, don't you think?," Jaune whispered.
"Jaune, I'd rather live with you on the run than see you hurt," she whispered back. "And I want our kid to grow up with both parents." She didn't say how she never had that herself growing up, though it didn't stop the tears from leaking out at the thought. She didn't want to cut her dad out of her life, for any reason, but it hurt more to think of life apart from Jaune, so she was willing to take such a drastic action.
"Mr. Xiao-Long," Weiss eventually spoke up, managing to snap Taiyang out of his fugue state, "I get that you love Ruby a lot, and you want what's best for her. Well-" she gestured to the adorkable, hugging couple, "-I don't think I've ever seen Ruby happier than she is with Jaune, or Jaune with her. It's clear that they both love each other, and even the baby didn't change that despite some initial worry, so punishing either of them won't accomplish anything."
"Weiss…!" Ruby teared up even more at her partner's sentiment.
Taiyang looked conflicted. "But...she's my little girl…."
"Kids grow up," Blake said plainly, "sometimes sooner than anyone expects."
He was about to argue more when Yang grabbed his hand. "Just let this one go, Dad. Please?"
As Taiyang's thoughts played out visibly over his face Ruby felt the anticipation and dread of his decision build up inside her; she didn't know if she could keep her emotions in check right now, and she couldn't but think of all the worst possible outcomes for this conversation, which didn't really help matters. She hugged Jaune a little tighter, waiting for her father to make up his mind. While this was going the rest of Team JNPR came over and put their hands on Jaune's shoulder, Nora opting to hug the both of them.
Eventually Taiyang turned to his daughter, his expression unreadable. "...whose baby is it?" he asked.
While not an answer she was dressing, it still didn't make her any less worried. "It's Jaune's," she said, "why would it be anyone else's?"
"You're sure it wasn't one of the others'?"
"What 'others'?" Jaune was the only boy she'd even slept with, what was her dad talking about?
"I think he means the people who claim to have 'conquered' Ruby," Pyrrha explained when everyone looked confused, "there's been a rumor going around Beacon that she gives sexual favors to the other students if they can find her."
"What!?" Weiss, Yang and Jaune exclaimed in unison.
"For how long?" Blake asked.
"Um...the past couple weeks?" the champion supplied, nervously bopping her pointer fingers together like Ruby usually did. "I only learned about it yesterday."
"See!?" Ruby gestured towards the red headed girl, "There aren't any 'others', it's just me and Jaune!" She then turned to her paramour, "Right?"
"Uh, r-right!" he stuttered, "Ruby and I only have eyes for each other…?"
Ruby glanced back at her dad, hoping the assurance that she wasn't a tramp had pacified him enough so they could explained things to him properly. He looked thoughtful, and after a few seconds the tension seemed to drain out of him as he relaxed and let his arms hang loose.
"Can you answer one thing for me?" he asks, sounding more weary than he did before, "You don't have a...you're still healthy, right?"
She nodded vigorously. "Yeah, totally!" She detached herself from Jaune and went over to hug her father. "...so you're not going to kill Jaune?"
"Sweetie, I wasn't going to kill him," he hugged her back, "I had to learn about you from the doctor, and the first thing I heard after getting hear was about you giving 'quickies' in the bathrooms; you can understand how I be a little emotional after that."
The tears that she'd been holding back this whole time finally broke free, leaving damp trails down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," she said, choking up a little, "I was scared and I thought you'd try to hurt Jaune, which you kinda did…." Sniff. "...I just didn't want our kid to grow up without both their parents." Taiyang gave her shoulders a tiny squeeze.
"It's alright, Sweetie," he comforted. "I may not like that this happened, but I'm never going to stop loving you; your kid's gonna grow up with two loving parents watching out for them."
"Thank- *hic*, thanks…."
"Thanks, Dad," Yang said as she joined in the hug.
"Thanks Mr. Xiao-Long-" Jaune tried to join the family hug as well, only to be stopped by Taiyang's extended hand. "Oof!"
"Don't get me wrong, Son," the man said to Jaune, "I'm not gonna hurt you...but that still doesn't mean I'm too keen on the thought of you sticking your privates in my daughter."
"DAD!"
"Oh my gawd, Dad!"
"You and I need to have a serious talk about the rest of your life with Ruby," he continued, "and I can't think of a better time to have that talk that over a piping hot pie from El Pizza Bandito's!" Without warning he grabbed Jaune by the wrist and dragged him out of the room, the poor boy stumbling along after him.
Needless to say, everyone was pretty much speechless.
"That...actually explains a lot," commented Weiss, the first to recover.
Then he suddenly poked his head back in the doorway, "Oh yeah, I almost forgot!" He tossed a cylinder at Weiss, who fumbled with it for a moment before she caught it. That done, he disappeared again.
"...thanks?" Ruby called feebly after him. She was still a little concerned for Jaune's well being, but right now she was a bit more interested in the care package Taiyang had left them. (He said he wasn't going to hurt Jaune, and he didn't lie, so they'd be fine for a while.) She detached herself from Yang and went over to Weiss, who was now turning the cylinder over in her hands. "I wonder what Dad gave us this time?"
"With how he was acting when he came in, probably a chastity belt," Yang remarked, joining her sister.
"Ooh, I hope it's food!" Nora chimed in, "Cuz I could go for some snacks right about now; I haven't had anything to eat since dinner!"
"Somehow, I don't think it's food."
"I doubt it's a chastity belt either," Weiss remarked. "Giving how they're supposed to work it would be impossible to fit in that kind of package, and I highly doubt your father could afford anything more than a cheap novelty from an adult toy store."
It didn't take her long to noticed the six pairs of wide, horrified eyes staring at her.
"...what? My father tried to get one for Winter when she was Ruby's age; he made my younger brother and I come with him when he went looking for one."
"Ohhh…!" everyone nodded.
"I thought those were just things they used in old stories," Nora commented quizzically.
"No," Weiss shook her head, "they're definitely real." A haunted look crossed her face.
Yang waved her hand in front of the heiress's face. "Uh, Weiss? You OK?"
While everyone fussed over Weiss, Ruby took the cylinder and sat down on on hers and Weiss's bunk bed, trying to work the package open. Given how her dad usually was it was probably something from all their friends back on Patch; she'd tried to write to them as much as she could, though with the Vytal Festival and the Tournament she'd sadly fallen out of the habit of writing out a letter every week. It made her a little sad to think about, but on the other hand her friends hadn't really wrote back, so if this really was from them then-
The lid suddenly popped open, startling her out of her thoughts. This drew the attention of the others, including Weiss (who snapped out of her traumatic memories at Ruby's squeal), who all joined Ruby in staring at the dark, furry head that now poking out the cylinder.
"Zwei!" she exclaimed as the dog popped the rest of the way out of the parcel, "What are you doing here, boy? I thought you went back home with Dad after the Tournament?"
"He's...back?" Blake said through gritted teeth, "Oh, that's just...great; I missed him so much…!"
"Oh hush, you!" Weiss brushed past her Faunus teammate and scooped the corgi up in her arms. "How could anyone not miss this adorable, wooby little angel?" She started giving Zwei nosies.
"'Wooby'?" Nora wondered.
"Maybe there's a letter explaining why he's back?" suggested Pyrrha.
Per Pyrrha's suggestion Ruby turned the cylinder over and shook it a little, in case a letter was stuck inside. Like last time a small mountain of dog food cans spilled out, along with an opener. After she stopped shaking a piece of paper chose that moment to fall out. Yang picked it up and read it aloud.
"'Dear girls, I heard about what happened, so I'm sending Zwei back to you; I'm sure Ruby could use as much comfort as she can after such a traumatic incident, and I figured he could help you find and maul the degenerate scum that did this to her. XOXO, Dad.'" She then crumpled it up and tossed it over her shoulder, somehow managing to sink it in a wastebasket. "Well, at least he tried to do something nonviolent."
"I suppose it's the thought that counts," Ren mused.
Blake raised an eyebrow. "Even if that thought was murder?" she asked, to which the stoic boy just shrugged.
"Sooo…," Nora drawled, "...he didn't send any snacks?"
to be continued….
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So firstly, apologies for the long wait in between this chapter and the last; Life didn't particularly align in a way that was conducive to write, plus I may have gotten distracted a couple times...so going forward this will probably be the norm; a couple sizable chapters per month with a couple weeks between each. (If I had more free time in my schedule I'd be inclined to write a bit more, but with bills to pay….)
Anyway, that was a harrowing meeting, wasn't it? I'm glad Taiyang decided to give Jaune a Stay of Execution, but whether it'll last or not only time will tell….But hey, Zwei showed up! So there's that.
I'm not gonna lie, this chapter was pretty tough to write, mostly for plotting reasons; keeping a healthy balance between the expected drama of the situation and moments of levity, while juggling the fact that I'm trying to write good prose, keep everyone in character, and potentially set things up for later in the story? A lot more nuances there than one would initially think. (I think I managed to pull it together, but that's for y'all to decide.)
And for those wondering, the thing with Taiyang isn't technically resolved yet; it's going to persist through more of the story before the actual resolution takes place.
Anyway, in the meantime you can check me out on Twitch ("the_layman") where I play games, in YouTube ("The Layman") where I keep my old streams and make videos about RWBY, or on Twitter (" the_layman215") where I post Fanfiction updates and retweet RWBY fanart, and where you can talk to me directly.
So next time...I dunno, I'm still planning it out.