Disclaimer, I do not own RWBY
AN/ I'm back, done with the semester and ready to write! So, we have the final time skip for this story, for the foreseeable future anyways, and with it, the primary plot begins! Time to show off what changes from canon, what stays the same, and how Ruby interacts with it all. Anyways, on to the chapter!
Roman was getting nervous, Ruby could tell. Watching him from the rafters of the warehouse, her canine ears picking up the conversation with Adam.
"Look, can you give me a description of her or not? If she came directly to you, then she is someone we need to watch out for." Roman demanded, annoyance mixing with his nervousness. Playing with her mother's spear, Ruby could feel the dust in the glove reacting to her demands, making the spear drift about lazily.
"Red dress, black hair and amber eyes? That's all you can give me? What do you mean she didn't give you a name?! Well then what did she want?" Roman was heavily considering going underground with what little information Adam was giving him. He could have everything moved by nightfall and be halfway to Vacuo.
"So, what has Adam done this time?" Ruby asked as Neo quietly climbed up to the faunus's perch.
"He didn't do anything, however, before his, little mission, someone approached his camp, asking for the White Fang to help her. Roman is, of course, freaking out now over his territory." Neo explained.
"And Blake?" Ruby asked, hoping their deal had gone through smoothly.
"Ditched Adam with train cars full of Atlas mechs and a little bit of dust. Did you pass the message on to Sienna?" Neo asked, knowing full well the tiger faunus had a fondness for the silver eyed wolf.
"Yeah, I did. She passed it along to her parents. The almost princess of Menagerie, fighting in the White Fang? Sounds like a bad fairytale if you ask me." Ruby joked.
"Well, keep your eyes and ears out for trouble. Roman already has extra guards mixed into the dockworkers, if he thinks she's a threat, then we need to treat her as such." Neo warned.
"Fine by me. Does this mean no jobs for a while?" Ruby asked, tilting her head.
"They're on hold for now. I still can't get over your new look." Neo said, changing the topic. Ruby looked down at her choice of attire. Having grown her hair out, it now reached past her shoulders. Her mothers' white cloak still covered her, however she traded her skirts and leggings for black dress pants. She retained her corset and blouse along with her combat belt. Opting to keep her combat boots, she still traded them in for a pair with a slight heel. Having filled out into a beautiful young woman, Ruby could honestly say she was the spitting image of her mother, save for the scar across her face.
"I like it, now I don't have to worry about accidentally flashing my ass to someone in a fight." Ruby joked as she subconsciously traced her scar.
"Stop that." Neo chastised, pulling her hand away from her face. Ruby didn't treat her scar as a mark of shame, rather she prided herself that Qrow could only scar her and not kill her. He had been persistent in trying to track her down, trying to save her from her current life to honor her mother or something, she couldn't remember anymore. He never came close though, and not due to lack of trying. Though with his absence from Vale proper, she had to guess that Ozpin had sent him away on a mission.
"You know I don't hate it, besides, it's already closed up, not like in can get infected from me touching it." Ruby countered.
"That's not the point. Now if you'll excuse me, Roman needs me." Neo said as she leapt from the rafters. Ruby sighed, pulling at the red tipped sleeve of her blouse. Calling the spear back to her hand, Ruby collapsed it and set it in its sheath on her back, swapping it for her scythe. She had finally named her favorite weapon, Blooded Rose. She could never use her mothers spear for a hit, it would be an insult to her mother's memory.
"Neo be ready to go dark on a moments notice, Red! I want you outside, let me know if you see someone that doesn't belong. Red dress, black hair, got it?" Roman shouted. Before Ruby could respond, a loud thud resonated from the main door. Then another. Suddenly the side door opened, revealing one of Roman's men.
"Boss, we got an intruder!" He shouted before a gunshot rang out, felling the man. Suddenly a boy with grey hair walked through the door as if he owned the place.
"Boss, it's clear to come in." He said, turning towards the door.
"Ah, Mercury, was it? Your old man finally let you get some fresh air?" Roman jabbed. Mercury however ignored him. Walking in behind him was the woman Adam had warned him about.
"Roman Torchwick?" She purred, a silent threat hung in the air.
"Depends on who's asking sweetheart. And let me tell you, I don't take kindly to pests who waltz into my territory and assault my men." Roman shot back. As silently as she could, Ruby walked along the rafters, Blooded Rose in its rifle form. Neo stood silently behind Roman, ready to pounce.
"We were hoping you would be able to help us. You own most of Vale, surely you would be willing to spread that influence around the world." She replied.
"Not with your help. Now, who are you? And let me tell you, Neo here has been itching for a fight." Roman said, gesturing to the silent woman.
"Cinder Fall. And that won't be necessary, we want to use her for something." Cinder responded.
"Sorry, but no deal. I don't loan out my best assassin like a mule. Now, walk away and you might live." Roman threatened, raising Melodic Cudgel and aiming it at Cinder.
"Oh Roman, like you have a choice." Suddenly a ball of fire was thrown at Roman. Before it could hit, Neo was able block it with her parasol. Raising her rifle, Ruby pulled the trigger, aiming for Cinder's chest. Faster than anyone could react, Cinder raised her hand, blocking the bullet. Gesturing to Mercury and the green haired girl, Cinder turned her attention towards the rafters Ruby was hiding on. Pulling her hood over her face, Ruby dropped as another fireball was sent her way.
"I like you." Was all Cinder said as two swords materialized out of glass. Extending her scythe, Ruby swung at Cinder, intent on removing her head. Between traded swipes and slashes, Ruby turned to watch Neo and Roman hold their own against the two henchman Cinder brought. Blocking a jab meant for her gut, Ruby twisted around the blade, using her scythe as if it were an exercise bar. Pulling her spear from its sheath, Ruby threw it in the air.
"Too bad, I don't like you." Ruby responded, swinging her scythe and sending the spear towards Cinder. Too Ruby's shock, Cinder blocked her scythe and caught the spear. Turning towards the silver eyed girl, Cinder disarmed her, throwing away the spear and the scythe before kicking Ruby in the gut. Without her weapon and clutching her stomach, Ruby began to panic.
"You are unimportant to me. And for standing I my way, you will perish." Cinder spoke coldly. With one final kick, Ruby was put to the floor as a bow materialized in Cinders hands.
"WAIT!" Roman shouted. Everyone froze, turning towards the master thief. "Don't hurt her and we'll help, just please, don't hurt her." Roman begged.
"I'm glad you could come around Roman. Play nicely now, and she won't be harmed, deal?" Cinder said as she walked towards Roman, extending her hand.
"Deal." Roman agreed.
"Wonderful, now, if you would excuse us, we have one last deal we need to negotiate. We will return Roman, and I expect your full cooperation." Cinder spoke, her threat still hanging in the air. Turning on her heel, Cinder left the warehouse, Mercury and her other follower close behind.
"Red, are you ok?" Roman asked, rushing to the downed girl.
"I'm fine, she just got a lucky shot on me is all, I promise." Ruby reassured as Neo helped her up.
"So, what does this mean for us?" Neo asked, turning towards her boss.
"For you and I, we play her little games. As for you Red, you get to lay low. The deal was that you didn't get hurt, not that she got to do with you as she pleased. Something about her rubs me the wrong way, and sadly, there isn't much we can do about it." Roman reasoned.
"Maybe I can help out in some way then? She didn't see my face, I can change my outfit if you want." Ruby offered.
"I'll keep that in mind Ruby, but right now, no. We don't know what she wants from us. Go back to the apartment. Once we know what she wants, then we'll figure something out, ok?" Roman asked, a pleading look in his eyes.
"Ok Roman, I'll lay low. And what if they compromise the apartment?" Ruby asked as Neo handed her weapons.
"Then do what you do best and run. They couldn't possibly hope to catch up to you. Now go, before they decide to come back." Roman dismissed, before uncharacteristically wrapping Ruby in a hug. Returning the hug, Ruby then backed off before disappearing in a flurry of rose petals.
"Are you certain you can get us out of this?" Neo asked, eyes fixed on where Ruby was standing.
"For her sake, I hope so."
*Junior*
While Junior enjoyed the perks of his illicit dealings, he did actually enjoy maintaining the club. He had a lively atmosphere that he could control, and a front for his information market. But tonight, was one he couldn't enjoy. Ruby had sent a cryptic message, though he could pull certain elements from it. He worried for Roman, he truly did.
"Strawberry sunrise, with one of the little umbrellas please." A blonde girl, probably around Ruby's age, said as she approached the bar.
"Aren't you a little young to be in here?" He asked, wary.
"I'm here for some information, two people, to be exact." She countered. At least she wasn't here for the alcohol.
"Depends on who you need, I've got contacts, but they're not perfect." Junior warned.
"Do you know anything about these two? Preferably where they are?" She asked. Junior nearly choked when he saw an image of Raven Branwen and Ruby Rose.
"I can't say where the red eyed one is, I've never seen her, and my contacts haven't ever given me anything resembling her." Junior responded.
"And Ruby?" She asked, pressing the question.
"All I know is that she operates in Vale. Bit of a jack of all trades in the criminal underworld. Otherwise I got nothing for you blondie." Junior responded, hoping the hard look he was getting was just for show.
"I think you're lying." She countered.
"Look, I already told you, my contacts aren't perfect. What does it matter to you anyways?" Junior demanded.
"Family matters. Now, are you going to tell me what I want to know? Or do I need to beat it out of you?" The blonde asked, readying to fight.
'The owe me one for this.' Junior mentally sighed as he prepared for a fight.
AN/ Kind of an awkward chapter, maybe? I don't know. Anyways. So today is the last day of the semester, I think I'm going to pass everything, and financially I'm starting to look up, so, everything is good once again. Now I just need to move out by August, and we should be good. Anyways, until next time, have a great day!