Chapter 10
Have you ever agreed to something because it was the easiest option, only to immediately regret it? That's what Ruby was feeling right now as she walked the streets of Vale with her team. She had agreed to come, because she wanted to end the conversation between her and Yang as soon as possible. All to get some relief from her headache, but as she watched Blake and Weiss's argument increase in volume she would have preferred the headache.
"They're violent terrorists that need to be stopped!" Weiss yelled.
"They're just misguided repressed people!" Blake countered. All of this started over a stupid stowaway. Ruby sighed she was five seconds from ditching this whole outing and looking for a quiet place to plan for the Vytal festival. With the influx of people it has put Ruby on edge. Meaning less sleep and even more than her usual paranoia. The more strangers that made their way to Vale the more Ruby felt exposed. To many new faces, to many new angles to cover, not enough time to prepare it made Ruby's skin crawl. She wasn't usually this unprepared it made every shadow look like a veiled threat. Ruby was lost in this train of thought until Weiss seemed to be making a bigger fuss bringing her focus back to her team. Ruby wasn't sure what happened, but it seemed to involve Weiss and a peculiar ginger girl.
It seemed Weiss and the ginger had collided which left Weiss a bit disoriented, but the ginger seemed to be doing just fine. As Ruby drew closer she heard Weiss mutter a simply apology to the girl.
"Sorry about that"
"Oh do not worry I am very sturdy." the girl replied practically beaming unnecessary enthusiasm. Ruby sighed it was another of those people. Not wanting to even get involved with the girl Ruby continued walking past the girl, well that's what would have happened if the ginger girl didn't step to intercept her.
"Salutations" the girl began "You look like you don't have many friends. I don't either would you like to be my friend?"
Yang held her breath waiting for Ruby's response. Yang wasn't sure how Ruby would respond to this girl's comment. Ruby as far as Yang could tell is very hard to read. Ruby's everything is normal and I'm going to hang you from your entrails look are very similar. Though now that Yang thinks of it Ruby's facial expressions have a grand range of looking tired to sleep deprived. We should probably work on that Yang thought.
"Yang!"
Yang snapped out of her thoughts to see Weiss snapping at her to get her attention. "Ruby's leaving" Weiss told her.
Yang looked to see a retreating figure dressed in red. "Ruby where are you going?" Yang yelled after her. Ruby didn't even bother to turn around she just gave Yang a dismissive wave as she continued back to the airship station. Yang went to follow her, but a hand grabbed her shoulder. She turned to see Blake who just gently shook her head. Yang sighed this was finally going to be sometime for her to get to know her little sister. This is all that ginger girl's fault Yang thought, but when she looked the girl was nowhere to be found. Begrudgingly Yang continued to walk with Blake and Weiss through the streets of Vale.
Ruby walked briskly back to the air station. The sooner she got back to Beacon the better, she wanted to somewhere that didn't completely make her skin crawl. In the city there were too many anonymous faces, too many hidden daggers poised and ready, too many…
"Salutations!"
Too many people like her. Ruby turned to see the ginger girl from earlier. "It seems you have forgotten my question from earlier and are going home. So allow me to reiterate. I Penny Polendina would like us to become the merriest of friends."
This girl can not take a hint can she? Ruby thought to herself. Well in these situations it's better to go along with it. "If i say yes will you leave me alone?" Ruby responded.
"If you would like me to, because friends do nice things for each other." Penny replied. Ruby groaned internally she feels like she's going to regret this. "Well I'm leaving so I'll see you around 'friend'" Just as the last word left Ruby's mouth all of the air was crushed from her lungs as Penny hugged the life out of her.
"Sensational! I too must be going I will see you around friend" Penny yelled as she was already disappearing into the crowd. Ruby stood there catching her breath, why did she even bother leaving Beacon?