Vengeance Is My Name
Chapter Ten
Author's note: Yay, non-canon Ruby, my favourite character to go off-script with. Enjoy!
The sun was nearly setting now, the girl noted with mild interest as she glanced out the window next to her desk. Pausing in her writing as silver eyes took in the deep reds and oranges flooding the evening sky, she set her pen down and leaned back in her chair. Crossing her right leg over her left, she reached back to gather up her dark brown shoulder length hair, tying it into a loose ponytail with the aid of a red ribbon taken from her left wrist. The ponytail was anything but high and tight, a messy knot that somehow accentuated her attractive, 'couldn't care less' attitude.
She sighed as her vision blurred, staring pensively out the window but not seeing any detail as her mind wandered.
There was no reason for them to not be back by now.
Perhaps she should send another scout?
She toyed with the leather bracer covering her right wrist, blunt fingernails scratching at the dark material as she wondered where her captain was.
She should definitely be back by now.
Uncrossing her legs, she pushed her chair back from her desk and stood. Reaching up high overhead she stretched, twisting side to side as her spine cracked pleasingly. Tilting her head down and touching her chin to her chest, her neck popped uncomfortably and she winced.
She had grown quite tall over the last few years, and now twenty-three, she stood just over six foot three inches tall. Her face was slender, her frame lean. Well proportioned arms that hid her strength ended in thin, dextrous fingers. She had always enjoyed running, whether for sport or for enjoyment, and it had contributed to her exceptionally low body fat percentage. Her height, coupled with her long, powerful legs, only served to increase her speed and endurance.
Sliding a hand underneath the fitted black leather jacket that adorned her upper body, she rubbed the back of her neck, her muscles still complaining about her hunched over, head down posture from the last few hours.
Tight, form hugging tan pants clung to her lower body, showing off the curve of her powerful quads and toned calves, the barest hint of a thigh gap visible between her legs.
Her nine inch high faded black combat boots scuffed against the floor as she shuffled around, attempting to force some blood into her seized up muscles.
Tired silver eyes fell to her desk, where her weapon lay, folded up into it's compact stored form.
The weapon, largely considered a gift from the Gods, was exceptional in more ways than one. A holy relic, she owed her vast amounts of success to her discovery of this weapon. It had been extremely difficult to master, but the more she learned, the more her reputation outpaced her on the battlefield.
There were few people as dedicated to the art of war as her, and fewer still involved in warfare who didn't know who she was, or what she was known for.
Her hands clenched into fists for a moment before she relaxed, reaching out and gently picking up her beloved weapon.
It was bulky in its stored form, that much was certain. Eight or so inches wide, over two feet tall, and two and a half inches thick, give or take. Her fingers found the release button of their own acccord, and she glanced around her office out of force of habit before gently squeezing the release.
Instantly, the weapon began to unfold, the deadly blade unfurling from itself like some sort of twisted metal rose. Locking into place with an audible click, the handle shot out from the base as if under some sort of internal pressure.
The girl gripped the shaft in her hands comfortably, her eyes cavorting up and down the weapon as her eyes shone brightly in unconcealed hunger.
This weapon was a product of a different time, if the legends were to be believed. A time when incredible machinery dominated the landscape, and fantastic weapons were the norm, not the exception.
Every once in a while, someone like herself would uncover such a weapon, and hold more power in their hands than most armies.
A knock at her door interrupted her thoughts, and she paused in her admiration. Glancing at the door, she gently laid her weapon on her desk.
"Come in." She called.
The door opened, and in stepped a tall, sharply dressed woman. With long silver hair that cascaded down her back in a silken waterfall of softness, she was the very picture of striking beauty. Her fair skin was free from any imperfections, and her sky blue eyes were keen in their attentiveness.
"Rose." The girl addressed her, folding her arms behind her back and levelling her gaze at the girl.
"Please, " The girl waved her off, pulling her chair out and flopping her lanky frame into it.
"How many times must I ask, Winter? Call me Ruby." Ruby gestured toward a chair across from her as she propped her feet up on the corner of the desk.
The girl rolled her eyes, but relaxed at Ruby's gesture. Moving toward the chair, she noiselessly pulled it out before carefully setting herself upon it.
"What brings you to the office?" Ruby asked, tilting precariously to the side in her chair and reaching down to paw at the bottom-most drawer.
"I'll admit, you're not who I was expecting." Ruby continued, flailing her left arm for counter-balance as she leaned to her right, fingers scratching at the drawer handle.
Winter raised an eyebrow at the girl in front of her, but made no comment on the gangly girl's antics.
"I have some bad news." Winter spoke quietly, and that got Ruby's attention. She stopped floundering for a moment, straightening up and taking her feet off her desk.
"What is it?"
Winter stared at Ruby, pressing her lips into a thin line for a moment as she formulated her careful response.
"The party we sent to apprehend the two vagrants attempting to disrupt the royal wedding didn't return on schedule. So we sent out a scout."
Ruby nodded. So that's why she hadn't heard anything from her captain.
"Did we find Pyrrha? And Jaune?"
Winter nodded slowly. "Jaune is... in a bad way. We don't know if he will make it. He's got a nasty knife wound, and it's currently unknown the extent of the damage."
Ruby nodded solomnly, processing the information.
"And Pyrrha?"
"She's in better shape. She has a head wound, and is currently being kept for observation, for any signs of a concussion. Otherwise, she will recover soon."
Ruby hummed.
"I had no idea those two were skilled. I was under the impression that they were vagrants, unskilled losers."
Winter shrugged.
"I've no idea the extent of their skill. However, I find it interesting that neither of them were killed. Do you think it was intentional?"
Ruby shook her head, brown hair tickling her cheeks. "Unlikely that it means anything other than by incapacitating them, they hoped to incur the least minimal amount of our wrath. Too bad for them that retribution will come regardless."
"Who should we send out to track them down?" Winter asked. "Would you like me to go?"
Ruby hummed softly to herself, reaching up to run her fingers through her hair.
"I've half a mind to go hunt them down myself."
Winter stared at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"For such small fry? I thought you didn't get your kicks unless you were fighting an army single-handedly."
Ruby groaned, tilting her chair back on two legs as she reached up over her head to stretch out her shoulders.
"That was one time, Winter."
Winter turned to glance out the window beside Ruby's desk.
"It only takes one moment for a legend to be born. You, and your weapon forged of star-stuff, there's no enemy you cannot defeat."
Ruby glanced down at her odd weapon lovingly.
"She really has taken good care of me, hasn't she?"
Winter nodded. "And you, her."
A comfortable silence stretched out between the two of them before Ruby reluctantly broke it.
"I should go see them."
Winter held up a hand.
"Not so fast. Give them time to recover a bit and come to their senses. Tomorrow. You can go see them tomorrow."
Ruby tilted her head to the side, then nodded in agreement. Looking across the desk at Winter, Ruby caught her bottom lip between her teeth, biting it nervously.
"Cardin is going to be upset that we let those two get away."
Winter shrugged. "Cardin won't say a word to you, for fear that you'll gut him like a fish. This isn't a failure on your part, so I wouldn't worry about it. As long as we catch them before they reach Citadel."
Ruby nodded slowly, her eyes already glazing over as she lost herself in thought once more.
Recognizing the look, Winter fell silent. Instead, she chose to simply study the girl, attentive gaze picking up every detail of Ruby's expressive face.
Winter secretly loved the way Ruby would zone out mid conversation, her eyes losing focus and her eyelids drooping slightly. Sometimes her cute little lips would be parted ever so slightly, sometimes moving to form whispered words as she talked herself through a problem or event. Every so often her head would tilt from left to right and back again, as if she were talking to herself and responding, considering her own words before forming an opinion on them.
It was adorable.
"You're doing it again." Ruby spoke suddenly, eyes sharpening and turning toward Winter.
Winter blinked, before straightening in her seat.
"Pardon me?"
Ruby's silver eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You're doing it again." Ruby repeated.
"You're staring at me with this this goofy smile on your face and it's creeping me out." Ruby raised a hand to indicate Winter, "If I'd let it go on any longer, I'd swear you'd start drooling."
Winter scoffed indignantly. "As if!" She retorted. "Winter Schnee does not drool."
Ruby regarded Winter for a moment, a smile threatening to raise the corners of her lips as she goaded her friend.
"That's funny, " Ruby began, tapping her fingers on her desk. "I seem to-"
The sound of the door opening interrupted them both, Winter glancing toward the open door with mixed feelings of annoyance and appreciation at the interruption.
"Hiya kiddo." A deep, gravelly voice greeted Ruby as an older man stepped in the door, slightly hunched over with his hands in his pockets.
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby's eyes lit up at the sight of her uncle, and although she had the self-control to remain seated, she did pump both fists into the air, grinning from ear to ear.
"Qrow." Winter greeted politely.
Qrow looked from Ruby to Winter, grunting quietly as he grabbed a chair from against the wall alongside the door.
"Ah, didn't see you, there."
Winter bit her tongue to suppress the snarky response she knew damn well he was trying to elicit from her. The man could spot a copper piece glinting in the afternoon sun in the midst of a forty acre field, there was no way he hadn't seen her.
She briefly considered a saucy comeback, but decided that ignoring him would irk him more than acknowledgement. Turning to Ruby, Winter couldn't stop herself from looking the girl up and down, as if appraising a fine gem. Swiftly bringing her eyes up to meet Ruby's lest she be caught, she silently cursed as she met mirthful silver, a grin threatening to overtake the girl's graceful features.
"Something caught your attention, Winter?" Ruby teased, as Qrow noisily dropped his chair to the floor before dumping himself into it, much in the same careless way as his niece did.
Winter steadfastly held Ruby's gaze, refusing to give even an inch in front of Qrow.
"Nothing of any importance." Winter dismissed her airily with the wave of her hand. Turning to Qrow before Ruby could formulate a response, she spoke.
"Qrow, any particular reason you're here?"
Qrow shrugged, his black t-shirt stretching across his shoulders.
"I found out something interesting that I thought Ruby might like to know."
Winter rolled her eyes. "You could have just sent her a sample of the alcohol you found, Qrow. No need to personally deliver it every time."
Ruby watched the back and forth with a grin on her face, immensely enjoying the way her two favourite people always seemed to get into it whenever they met.
Qrow paused for a moment, before humming quietly.
"Thanks for reminding me that I'm out of drink." He grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I got you, uncle Qrow!" Ruby exclaimed. Leaning down to the side, she pulled open the drawer she was pawing at earlier. Withdrawing a bottle and three small glasses, she set it all on the desk near her weapon.
"What are we drinking tonight, kid?" Qrow asked, interest piquing in his tone as he sat up a bit straighter.
"Ochre Field's Finest." Ruby uncorked the bottle and gently tipped the amber colored liquid into the small glasses. "A wonderful bourbon."
Winter accepted the drink slid across the desk toward her, intending on taking the smallest of necessary sips. As she looked up from the strong smelling liquid, she noted with disbelief that Qrow had already emptied his glass, holding it out toward Ruby for a refill.
"C'mon, kid, a little splash like that for a seasoned vet like me, let's not try to hurt feelings tonight." He spoke good-naturedly, nudging Ruby as she laughed.
"Anything for you, uncle Qrow." She giggled as she poured him another.
"Are we killing the bottle tonight?" Qrow asked, leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs on the corner of her desk.
Ruby shrugged. "I've nothing on the agenda tonight."
Winter looked from Qrow to Ruby, well aware of how the younger girl idolized her uncle. Hopefully she limited what affectations of his that she decided to adopt.
"How about you?" Qrow looked to Winter, who tightened her grip on the glass in her hand.
"I've... got prior engagements." Winter spoke. "A courtesy drink, we'll call it."
"Aww!" Ruby whined. "C'mon Winter, stay and drink with us!"
Winter said nothing as she raised her glass to her lips, the smell alone making her want to bow out.
"I'll think about it." She allowed, licking her lips despite taking no pleasure in the taste of this alcohol.
"Okay!" Ruby smiled at her, the brightest, cutest smile that tugged gently at Winter's heart, making her silently bemoan her current situation.
To distract herself, she turned to Qrow.
"You've caught my interest; I'm curious as to what news you're bringing."
"Right." Qrow took another swig, before rolling his head left to right, neck cracking loudly.
"So, according to the legends, our world used to be one of great technological advancement, with fantastic machines doing every sort of bidding you could think of."
Winter hummed impatiently, not one for what she considered to be tall tales of fantasy.
"That advanced technology not only made our lives easier, but made our weapons far more deadly." He gestured to Ruby's weapon.
"A perfect example seen here."
Against her will, Winter's gaze was drawn to the beautiful, deadly weapon in front of her that she had only seen wielded by one person.
One incredibly lethal, mesmerizing person...
"We've found another one."
Winter blinked out of her reverie, glad that no one could peer into her private thoughts. Looking up at Qrow, she furrowed her brow in confusion.
"Another weapon like Ruby's?"
"Nooooo!" Ruby moaned, sweeping her weapon up off the desk to hug it, nearly knocking Qrow's drink over in the process.
"My deadly scythe is the only one of it's kind!" She wailed. "Part of it's desire is it's incredible rarity!"
"Calm down, kid." Qrow waved a hand at her, mostly to get her to stop swinging her weapon around.
"It looks nothing like yours. It's advanced like yours, but completely different."
Ruby gave pause, looking at Qrow over the top of her weapon. "How so?"
"The way the weapon is put together, its strange shape, its machinations, it's not a creation of our people." Qrow paused to drink. "And consider for a moment where it was found."
"Where?"
Winter glanced at Ruby as they both spoke the same word at the same time, and Ruby grinned brightly at her.
Before she lost herself, Winter looked away. To quell her emotions, she took another drink.
"Those ruins in the north that we're excavating. We've made some progress in the last few months. Once you get thirty feet down, the hard packed clay stops. It's soft silt as far as we can dig, and it comes out swiftly. We've uncovered what appears to be an old government building or institution of learning. It looks- predictably- like a warzone, but that's expected. And it lends a lot of credence to the old texts."
"You mean the old fairytales?" Winter scoffed derisively.
"I still can't understand why you're not a believer, especially after seeing Ruby's weapon." Qrow tossed back the rest of his drink, grabbing the bottle from the desk.
Winter gestured to the weapon still clutched tightly to Ruby's enticing chest.
"It's fantastical. I won't deny it that." Winter shook her head. "But one weapon does not make evidence for everything that you claim to be true."
"Perhaps you should see for yourself?" Qrow questioned.
Winter froze.
Ruby glanced from Qrow to Winter, pink tongue sliding across her upper lip.
"Are we travelling to the ruins? Is that what you're suggesting?" Ruby asked, beginning to get visibly excited.
In an effort to calm her leader, Winter held up a palm.
"Ruby, think for a moment." She cautioned. "Pyrrha and Jaune are out of commission, and you have a mercenary army to run. Think long and hard about whether we can up and leave on a personal crusade to change my belief in your uncle's childhood bedtime stories."
Ruby thought for a moment, then seemed to physically deflate, shoulders drooping as her head lowered slightly.
"Yeah, I suppose... "
Qrow snickered into his cup.
"Something you'd like to say?" Winter challenged, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at Qrow.
Qrow looked up from his cup, the very picture of innocence as his light red eyes shifted around the room before settling on Winter.
"Uhhh, no." He shook his head. "I'm just glad that Ruby has someone a bit older and wiser to temper her... youthful volatility. To keep her thinking more than one step ahead. It's good for her."
"Qrowwww!" Ruby whined, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm not a child! I don't need Winter to babysit me!"
Qrow laughed, throwing his arm around Ruby's shoulders.
"Of course not, kid."
"Seriously." Ruby insisted, pouting as she glared at her uncle. "I run a mercenary army and everything!"
Qrow raised an eyebrow over the rim of his glass.
"So I've noticed." He grinned.
"You're doing fine, Ruby. You're right, you don't need to be babysat. I'm just glad that Winter is on your side, instead of against you, that's all."
As Ruby pouted so cutely, Qrow laughed and poured another round of drinks.
"Easy now, slow down." Winter scolded gently, almost losing her balance as Ruby stumbled forward. Ruby giggled, before regaining her balance.
"Than... Thanksh for your help Winter." Ruby blinked, then furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"Damn... I gotta speak slowerer."
Winter rolled her eyes as she felt Ruby's arm slide around her waist.
"Your uncle knows better than to allow you to drink so much." Winter spoke as they resumed their walk, taking careful steps toward Ruby's private quarters. Although even as she spoke, she knew her choice of words were wrong.
"No one allows me to do anything." Ruby spoke belligerently, scuffing her feet along the ground as she attempted to match Winter's pace.
"Of course not." Winter agreed.
"I'm an adult, I'm not a csh...chhh... a kid anymore. I run a mercy company."
Winter had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing at Ruby, which she knew would only hurt the young girl's feelings.
"Of course." Winter nodded, reaching down and grabbing the back of Ruby's jacket. She hauled Ruby more upright as she noticed the girl leaning further and further to the left, righting the girl as Ruby overbalanced, pushing herself up against Winter.
"How far is it to bed?" Ruby whined softly, completely switching her attitude as Winter looked anywhere but at her intoxicated leader.
"Almost there." Winter spoke softly, her tone soothing.
"Good. Good."
The rest of the walk was in silence, Winter silently praying to whatever Gods still watched over this world that Ruby wouldn't throw up tonight.
When they reached Ruby's room, Winter carefully untangled herself from Ruby, keeping one hand clapped tightly on her shoulder to keep her from falling on her face.
"Can you unlock your door?" Winter asked, tensing as Ruby leaned into her for a moment before regaining her balance and straightening up.
"Pffft. Can I unlock a door. I created a mercynary army from nothing." Ruby giggled. "I can unlock a door."
Winter watched amusedly as Ruby glanced down at the key hanging around her neck. Slowly, she reached up and grabbed it before pulling it up and over her head. Shaking her hair free from the black lanyard, she promptly winced as the movement made her head swim.
It took a few tries, but Ruby got the key lined up and inserted into the handle. With a twist, the door unlocked, and the full weight of Ruby falling against the door pushed it open.
Winter lunged forward to grab Ruby before she broke her nose upon the floor, sighing in relief as she dragged Ruby to her feet.
"You might be unstoppable in battle, but drunk you could easily kill yourself on a flat, level surface." Winter chided.
Ruby raised a hand to protest, then noticed she was missing her key. Pausing, she tried to turn around, but Winter, sensing what she was attempting to do, grabbed her shoulders.
"Bed. Now. I'll get the key you left in the door."
Ruby turned toward her bed, a low-lying, extravagantly wide affair in the middle of her room. The pile of blankets upon it looked inviting, and Winter tentatively relaxed her iron grip on Ruby's shoulders as Ruby began unsteadily tottering toward it.
"Sit." Winter ordered.
Ruby complied, sitting down on her bed and swaying unsteadily back and forth as she tried to focus her blurry vision on Winter as she seemed to float around the room.
Winter swiftly recovered the key from the door and dropped it on the bedside table.
"I'm going to leave now, but I want you to undress, drink some water, and get a good night's rest, okay?"
Ruby blinked, then shook her head.
"I can't."
"What?" Winter paused. "Why not?"
Ruby shrugged, her left shoulder raising and falling before her right in a sort of lopsided gesture.
"Help."
Winter sighed, reaching up to rub at her face.
"Ruby... "
Ruby blinked, then frowned.
"I'm sorry. I'm a nui... nuis... I'm a bother, ain't I?"
Winter paused, glancing at the partially open door.
"No, you're not. It's just... "
Winter strode over to where Ruby sat and crouched down in front of her.
"I can't be here for long. And I know you know why."
Ruby reached up to rub at her eyes with the back of her hand, rocking side to side slowly.
"Because people say things." Ruby spoke quietly.
Winter nodded, not really wanting to discuss it out loud.
"They do." Winter agreed.
"They say that we're fucking, and that it's the only reason you have the job you have." Ruby spoke bluntly, and Winter winced.
"Some of them, yes. So you know I shouldn't be here."
"I don't care."
"Huh?"
"I don't care." Ruby insisted, reaching up to run her hands through her hair and pull it over her shoulder.
"I run this show." Ruby said, a hint of arrogance in her tone. "I do what I want. If anyone wants to talk shit, they can speak to my weapon."
Winter would have laughed if she thought it wouldn't hurt Ruby's feelings. Instead, she settled for reaching up and ruffling Ruby's hair.
"Don't." Ruby shied away this time, ducking away from Winter's hand and almost falling over.
"I'm sorry?"
"Don't pet my head like I'm some sort of kid." Ruby insisted, eyebrows curving downward as she struggled to focus on Winter.
Winter exhaled slowly, staring at Ruby.
"I don't think you're a kid, Ruby."
Ruby nodded.
"Good. Now help me take my clothes off."
"Pardon?"
Ruby reached up and plucked at the collar of her jacket.
"I's tangly."
"Tangly?"
A flash of annoyance crossed Ruby's face.
"I'll get tangly and fall."
Winter barely suppressed a snort of laughter as she stood, gesturing for Ruby to stand as well.
"Okay, then. I'll help you."
Ruby pushed herself to her feet unsteadily, glaring at Winter even as Winter gently slipped Ruby's jacket off her strong, toned shoulders.
Winter was careful to hang the jacket up on the wall peg beside the bed, before turning back to Ruby.
Ruby was still glaring at her, and Winter raised one slender eyebrow.
"Something wrong?"
Ruby's frown turned to a pout.
"You were going to leave me and let me struggle on my own."
Winter sighed.
"Ruby... "
Ruby raised her arms up over her head, and Winter grabbed the hem of her shirt, careful not to scratch Ruby's skin with her nails. Pulling her shirt up over her head, Winter tossed it carelessly to the floor as Ruby reached up to run her fingers through her messy hair.
A black sleeveless undershirt barely concealed Ruby's chest, and Winter was sorely tempted to turn those false rumors to truth right here on Ruby's bed.
Winter tore her eyes away from Ruby, and glanced around the room to distract herself.
... And on Ruby's floor...
... And in Ruby's bath...
Winter forced her gaze back to Ruby, who was staring at her with a much softer expression on her face this time.
"Now your pants and boots."
Ruby giggled, reaching up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Mmm, take my pants off, Winter."
Winter froze, and for the first time, she lost her composure. A traitorous blush forced it's way to her cheeks, and she found she had lost the ability to form coherent thoughts. Pushing herself away from Ruby, Winter tore her eyes away from her leader. Nearly tripping over her own two feet, she leaned against the wall to catch her balance despite the fact she'd had almost nothing to drink tonight. Panic filled her voice as she spoke, and she deliberately looked anywhere but at Ruby.
"Uhh... uh. Just... drink some water. See you in the morning. Night."
Before Ruby could react, Winter had bolted from the room, not looking back as she slammed the door closed a bit harder than necessary.
Ruby stared at the closed door for a moment, her alcohol-addled mind trying to make sense of the swift sequence of events that had just occurred.
"Winter?"
With a sudden weakness attacking her knees, she dropped back onto the bed, tilting her head to the side as she tried to figure out what had happened.
Author's note: I'm going to attempt to update regularly every Sunday night. I hope you all enjoy so far. Feel free to drop me a review and let me know what you think and what you like or don't like. Constructive criticism welcomed, as always. This is my first time writing Frozen Rose, so let's see how all of this plays out.