Ruby's fingers trembled at the thought of taking the book, 'Surely he wouldn't mind at all its just a book, a book he broke Cardin's legs over and tried drowning him after knocking out his whole team one punch each, what's the worst that could happen?'
Okay maybe she should leave it alone. Come back another time and talk to him…but still it's just there and no one's around, and Hansel is in the shower… maybe a small peak wouldn't hurt, would it?
Gently she lifted the leather booklet up to her eye level and undid the belt buckle binding. On the first page she read this: "For my big brother who's always by my side,
Gretel."
'Gretel? Brother? Whaaaatttt!?'
For the next twenty minutes she flipped through the pages; reading disturbing entry's that described horrible scenes of violence committed by men and monsters, men vs men that turned themselves into monsters fought savagely with axes and swords decorated in the entrails of their fallen foes.
It was the most disturbing thing she had ever read, these pictures were so detailed it nearly looked like they were photographs. To Hansel's credit though not everything in there was disturbing to say the least, there were some drawings that had honestly impressed her.
The first was the portrait looking one of an old man wearing an ornate outfit; his hair was only present on the sides of his head in a semi-circle, a mustache that was underneath his nose, and a smile on his face. Underneath the picture she read: Planetary Governor Leonidas Romano of Armageddon.
The next picture she found was one of a boy similar to Hansel's age but with some actual color on it; his hair was black and shaggy with a Commander's cap tilted to the side, brown eyes accompanied a smug smirk that shouted mischief, his uniform was yellow with brown straps holding his equipment together.
His name was Sergeant First Class Julius Romano, Steel Legion 101st Armored Division, there was a second name next to his original name, "Ork's Bane" that was written in capital gothic lettering.
On the next page she came across one that made her jaw drop; it was a picture of a girl that obviously had more work done on it, her hair was short but long enough to lightly touch her cheeks, she had a similar uniform to Hansel's meaning she was a Kriegan, her eyes were not gray rather sky blue, and most unlike Hansel she had a warm smile.
Under the picture she read the name 345768-00877-Gretel, written next to it was: My wonderful little sister, whom I shall protect for all my life.
Tears began to swell in Ruby's eyes, 'Hansel said that he was all alone, he never mentioned having a sister, so that means tha-' She froze upon hearing the bathroom door unlock, and wished furiously that she left the book where it had lied.
The shower was divine. Such a rare pleasantry always felt nice in the bunkers, but the water pressure there was nothing like the pressure here. Hansel could've sworn that his shoulder muscles cracked under the soothing treatment of hot therapeutic pressurized water.
He could've dropped dead right then and be absolutely happy about it.
After taking the time shave off the small beard that was accumulating on his face he took the time to comb his hair back, completely unnecessary because the mask was going right back on after words but it was an impulse that came to mind. Weird because he's only combed his hair several times in his life, that was just for facial recognitions with the Commissars, again a pointless endeavor on the Commissar's part because they for the most part never cared for their own men and Kreigans always wore the masks.
This strange world was getting to him.
Although he had to admit he didn't look too bad, but he looked even better with his mask on. Now he just had to button up his pants and walk out the do- 'WHAT!'
He stared at her unmoving, their eyes met for a brief second before he laid his eyes upon the only thing of value he owned.
"Hansel, I- I can explain! YouseeIfounditlyingoutan-" Ruby began babbling weakly as Hansel's face began to twitch into a sneer.
"Put. That. Down. Now." He growled walking towards her, his fists were balling themselves up instinctively readying themselves for a beating.
"I'm so-" The Kriegsman was not going to listen to her excuses; he swiftly swiped it from her grip, his left hand was shaking violently, he wanted to hit something very badly.
Hansel's stare sent horrifying chills down Ruby's spine as she stood there helplessly, her sense were screaming for her to run but they were just not responding to her commands. Ruby was completely helpless.
Taking mild interest in what privacy Ruby violated he looked at the page she was on. Whatever anger he had before was gone, it was now replaced with a fury Hansel was struggling to control.
He closed the book with a loud slam, "Get. Out."
"Bu-"
"GET OUT! GEH RAUS! RAUS! RAUS!" He shouted with a booming voice as he pushed Ruby out of the room to avoid splattering her brains all over the walls in a fit of rage.
Ruby had to put her hands up before she slammed into JNPR's door, a loud slam made her wince as she slowly turned around to look at the door with immense regret.
'How dare she… how frakking dare she!?' Hansel screamed inside his head, his fists were yearning for violence, something needed to be broken or torn. He threw his fatigues on hastily stuffing them in his pants before tightening the suspenders around his shoulders, donning his coat and mask with a scowl that would give puppies heart attacks Hansel set out in an angry stride completely blowing Ruby off as she once again tried explaining herself.
"Hasnel wait, please?"
"Shut up. Shut up!" He turned with a snap getting in her face, "Shut up! Don't you dare look through this book again ever, and I mean ever again. Do we have an understanding?"
Ruby shrunk back with her eyes looking at the floor, "I-I'm… yes. I'm so sorry."
Hansel stared at her for a minute, watching her tremble underneath his sight, "Leave me alone." He growled marching in the opposite direction, carrying an aura of anger with him out down the hall.
"I'm sorry…" Ruby whispered Rosewarping away from her dorm and further away from Hansel.
Underneath Mountain Glenn…
Inside the cave now occupied by the Warband of Chaos Undivided and its horrid followers their plans for gathering more sacrifices and followers to initiate. The four officers of the Warband stood in their respective distance between one another.
"My puppets are ready to go Khan, your Vrakian scouts will have their opportunity to infiltrate the city of theirs, this Vale, in the next three days with me in disguise for reconnaissance." Montresor began, "Bubonicos's disease-bombs shall require more time to create, he needs some more Faunus specimens to toy with."
"Yes, they have a unique natural immunity to some common human diseases. I plan on making something that targets them specifically, Grandpa Nurgle shall be most pleased with this new challenge!" Bubonicos said, clapping like a giddy child eager to tell their elder that they've got a good grade at school.
Khan growls lowly sharpening a knife, "No one has caught word of our plans at all?"
"Our presence goes unnoticed by the inhabitants; our penetration into this world was flawless." Caligularii spoke with much unneeded huskiness in his… her… its voice, making even Bubonicos take a step to the left.
Montresor coughed clearing his throat, "Okay… good. As long as we do not see those blasted Corpse Emperor loving dogs any time soon, at least before we are ready and our mission here is complete."
All four turn towards a banner that hung off of the adjacent wall, an eight sided star with the colors of all four Dark Gods present, the banner itself was silky smooth and new.
"Praise be Chaos Undivided! Long live Chaos!" They shouted in unison, not too soon after a chorus of similar cheers went through the cave.
In the Emerald Forest…
The only thing greener than the renowned Emerald Forest would be its new greenskinned denizens. Blitz Fragskull the Stormboy Commander, a Freebooter Ork of origin, he was tasked by his leader and friend Gritz the Blood Axe Nob Kommando; now many would find it strange that a Freebooter would work for a Blood Axe but given the fact that said Blood Axe is just a little bit shorter than a Warboss and saved his life from a Tyranid swarm would've ended his own life, Blitz owed Gritz his undying loyalty.
"C'mon you lot, teh boss wantz us to find a right propa cave, so stop loligaggin you gits! Move out!" He chastises the other Nobs of his party for slowing their pace, "We ain't got all day to dilly dally, Gritz waants to have h'our base all set up real nice like!"
"Ya got it bwoss!" One of the… slower….uh special? Special Nobs said saluting with crossed eyes.
Blitz stared the Ork down and nodded his head with disappointment, "Why do I get the soft 'eads? Gutz, Geargrinda! Get up here!"
Two Orks from the back, a nob and a Mekboy came running up to Gritz; the Mekboy was Git Geargrinda, for the most part he was now made of metal, his head and its insides along with his hands were the only natural things left of him.
The rest of Geargrinda was all cybernetic, a testament to his skill as a Mekboy in Gritz's Gang. A 'recovered' Imperial bolter in his left hand and a claw made of sharp blades having dual purpose as a hand and a weapon made up his personal arsenal.
If it wasn't for being too over cumbersome he'd have his ride, a heavily armored motorcycle with two wheels in front and in the back with weapon storages on its sides, how he loved that thing.
Gutz Rothtooth on the other hand was an enigma on his own. He was a Deathskull Loota Nob, that raided but he was also a reverend that was armed with a Big Shoota that utilized dual drum magazines, his secondary was an underhanded railgun lovechild between a rocket launcher.
For when you absolutely have to kill that spider.
Gutz however was not alone; he had his personal Gretchen and most trusted ally Kimari riding on his shoulder. He and Kimari were close enough to be described as friends. However a Gretchen was still a Gretchen and therefor will be kicked around like a futbol from time to time.
"O'ight 'en lads, tha Gretchen I 'cent up a ways shrood be comin back soon, fallow 'im when ya spot 'im." Blitz said walking through the tree branches, each one snapping off with a small explosion from the tension his body made against them, "End I won't be seein you gits til you come back wit newz."
"Got it boss!" They both said simultaneously, peeling their eyes for the Gretchen.
For nearly thirty minutes the Orks saw endless green and brown, "Dis place ain't so bad, could oose some blood dough." Kimari piped dangling his feet off of Gutz's shoulder.
"No humies sho far, dis iz getting boring boss!" One of the Nob's whined with his head bowed pitifully.
Blitz smacked him over the head, "Put a sock in it ya git! We'll get plenty of humies to kill soon en-"
Gunfire from a bolter caught the mini pack's attention and the screaming that followed it, "Furries! Furries!" A Gretchen yelled as he blind fired behind him running like several Bloodthirster Tyranind hybrids were after him.
(That sounds fucking scary)
"Wot's dis?" Blitz upholstered his Mork Magnum Special and aimed his sights over the Gretchen's head with his eyes squinted waiting for the rumbling noise to make its appearance.
Five Ursa jumped from the foliage chasing after the Gretchen, they dodged every poorly made shot as they neared the screaming Greenskin. The poor Ork tripped on a root and lost his bolter, "Zog!"
One Ursa leapt forward intending on scooping the smaller Ork in its maw, however instead of the Gretchen it found a large red metal arm in its mouth dislocating the jaw and breaking all of its teeth.
"Dat Gretchen iz Blitz's Gretchen!" Geargrinda opened his hand splitting the jaw and head from the Ursas body, the corpse flapped on the ground in a death rattle as it rapidly started to decompose into black mist. The other four were stood in a defensive semi-circle in front of the Orks snarling and sneering.
The Orks themselves returned the favor, "WAAAGH!" Blitz shouted as he fired one round from his Magnum Special off, the round made a large burning as it connected with the biggest Ursa's chest crumpling it like a piece of paper.
The Nobs opened fire with their Shootas in a sprinkler fashion pelting the Ursa with their rounds tearing them into their bodies tearing off large chunks of black flesh until they were splattered all over the foliage.
"Wot a butifell sight! Eh? Wot's dis?"
Blitz prodded one of the Ursa limbs with his pistol as it disintegrated, "Now dey all dew dis? Gittyrung! Report!"
The Gretchen that had been running his ass off jumped up with a salute, "Cave sir! Moar O' dem beasties in dere dough!"
A disturbing grin came over Blitz's face, "Oh iz dere now? Iz's WAAGH time!" He shouted thrusting his fists into the air, a chorus of similar roars sharing the same belief followed as the small horde charged off into the direction Gittyrung came from.
Beacon…
Ozpin turned to the Emerald Forest with a raised brow, he could've sworn that he heard a mass of gunshots and roars coming from the forest. Perhaps it was one of the airships engines back firing or maybe he was just hearing things with all of the clockwork in his office… maybe that was it… hopefully.
Hopefully however did not put his nerves at ease, his instincts have been flaring for the last couple of days, he hasn't slept well since Hansel first arrived. At first it was out of concern, but after the last few days since that storm had passed he's had nightmares that sent his heart racing and drenched him in sweat.
Oum knows why, maybe this job was getting to him; perhaps he should start drinking more tea than coffee for the next couple of days? That should help dampen his anxiety, more walks through the academy might take his mind off of the Vytal Festival, nothing more stressful for a man in his position than having to prepare for housing some guest students from the other academies.
In fact a walk right now will be a good start, nice and relaxing, no problems at all whatsoever.
He didn't get a foot from his elevator door before a familiar red/black blur skidded to a halt and nearly slammed into him, "Sorry Headmaster!" The blur said coming to a halt.
"Ruby? Why are you running in the halls?" Ozpin asked, after getting a better look at her he saw that she had puffy reddening eyes and tears streaming down her cheeks, "Why are you crying?"
"Wha?" She wiped her face quickly with her sleeve, "I'm not crying!"
Ozpin raised his brow at her, "Ruby don't lie to me. Why were you crying?"
Ruby covered her eyes with her hands, "I did something really stupid Headmaster. Can we walk a bit? Please?" She asked gesturing down the hall.
Gently he placed his hand on her shoulder and lead her down the hall, "Of course Ruby. You can tell me anything, now what happened?"
"Well, its about Hansel. Today he seemed to be stressed about something, I don't know what but it made him act very distant with us. I went to go and talk to him about it but he was taking a shower, so I was waiting but while I was waiting I saw his notebook and… I… I started reading it."
"Continue."
"He came out of the bathroom and… an- he was so angry… I didn't know he had a sister…" Ruby stopped mid-pace steepling her hands over her mouth and began to cry again.
"He didn't hit you did he?" Ozpin asked defensivly.
"Nononono, not at all! He just pushed me out of the dorm room shouting!"
"Hmm." Ozpin pinched the bridge of his nose feeling another headache coming on, "When I spoke to Hansel after the day when he fought Cardin and his team I did inquire about the books significance. It was a gift, a gift from his sister… Gretel I believe her name was."
"Yeah! That's her name, I also a picture he drew of her. She looked like a really nice person. Headmaster, what do I do? How do I fix this?"
Ozpin stopped walking just before the last hall leading into the courtyard; he took a small sip from his coffee mug while he observed Ruby's pleading eyes, "Hansel loves that notebook dearly, in his own words it is the only thing he actually owns. When you went looking through it you violated the only privacy he's had and saw something you shouldn't have seen."
Ruby started twiddling her thumbs with a very sorrowful look on her face.
"From the way he acts I think it's plain to see that he has not stopped grieving, even after four years. I myself know what it's like to lose someone close, I'm sure you do too Ruby."
"I do… what do I say though?"
Ozpin smirked taking another sip from his mug, "That's up to you. Knowing Hansel he's probably in the garden. Good luck Ruby." He said turning down another hall leaving the young huntress alone.
"Thanks for the talk…"
Blitz's Orks in the Emerald Forest…
After several minutes of running and chopping up stray Grimm that came in the Ork Horde's path they finally came upon the handsome looking hole inside of a mountain; plenty of green moss grew on the outsides, the rocks around its mouth provided excellent cover for the Greenskins.
All that needed to be done was clear out a little infestation.
"Gutz!" The large Deathskull loota Nob came running up with his Big Shoota locked and loaded with a dual drum magazine and his railgun/rocket launcher hybrid in his other hand, "Go in dar and clear dose Furries outta dar!"
"For teh glory of Mork and Gork! For DAKKA!" He charged into the cave's mouth screaming his praises to the Ork Gods with fanatical glee.
On the outside of the cave Blitz set his back against a rock and started smoking a large cigar with a terrifying grin on his face, he loved it whenever a battle no matter the size takes place even if he doesn't particate in it. A good commander always took pleasure in his masterpieces and whenever his Orks slaughtered an enemy with no mercy, the sounds of explosions and screams were music to his ears.
Ten minutes later Gutz emerges, bloodied but with a toothy grin, "Furries be dead, me gunz made teh cave bigga!"
Blitz smacks his shoulder and nods, "Fine work, rest urself up now." He waves the other Orks forward, "Come on eww lot, make dis place Ork worfy!"
Beacon Gardens…
'Stupid girl.' Hansel thought bitterly; for the past twenty minutes or so he's been sitting on a bench and staring off in the distance wishing an Exterminauts was purging the planet of all life. It would be a glorious way to die.
The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, it was getting late and if Hansel knew the non-Kriegans as well as he thought he did then they might be worrying about him not being in the dorm room. Not like he gave a damn about what any of them thought in the slightest, but it would lead to another annoying pointless conversation.
Hansel sighed opening up his journal again, without even looking down he flipped to the page he wanted to be on, the page he's visited a thousands of times.
'Gretel…' She was the only thing that kept him motivated to survive for the longest time, most of the children of Krieg would submit to their training and lose absolutely all trace of their humanity and become comparable to that of a Necron. Few however had the iron will to retain a mere fraction of their humanity, they needed one thing to concentrate on, one thing that would keep them alive. Physically and mentally.
Ever since she died though that human part of his mind has long since been dead, he's lost limbs and has gained scars that would haunt him until the end of his days, if he continues his regular Kriegan path then the end of those days will come closer than expected. Instead of having a cause to die for, he needs one to live for.
"Hansel?" He snapped his head towards the soft voice that addressed him, and to his displeasure it was Ruby, "Can we talk? Please?"
He stared at her for a good minute in silence, "What?" The Kriegan asked, the venom in his voice had for the most part had gone away.
Ruby closed her eyes and sat down a foot away from Hansel, after taking a short breathe she opened her eyes and spoke softly, "I'm sorry that I went looking through your journal. I don't know what it's like to lose a sister… but I know what it's like to lose a family member."
A single tear ran down her cheek, "I lost my mother a few years ago when I was younger, I remember not talking to anybody for days, not eating anything or leaving my room. I just felt so empty, so incomplete without her around," Hansel slowly turned his head towards her mildly interested.
"I just felt like the whole world collapsed and that there was no way of ever recovering from it. Everything reminded me of her and the things she own I treated them like they were the most delicate things in the world and lash out at anybody that would try to help me."
"Then how did you get over it?" He asked.
Ruby inched a little bit closer taking his hand and gave it a squeeze, "I talked about it with someone."
Wow that escalated, give it a few more chapters and we'll get this story back on RWBY's canon, hopefully our Kriegan boy won't feel so alone anymore when a couple of chaps from the guard up to. Chaos Undivided is up to no good again and our Orks (courtesy of 37) are on their way to establishing themselves on Remnant, be prepared for cartoonish Ork stupidity, it also looks like Ruby and Hansel are making up.
Drinks for everyone! Except for the Vostroyans, they drink too much.