Ok, wow. Um, that's amazing. And I mean the 2k views I got in less than a month. Thank you guys so much for this. Especially for some pretty weird and not-so-great chapters. ie: Chapter 4, the one I basically forgot how to form thoughts on. Anyways, enough rambling! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing of RWBY. Unless you're from a parallel universe where I actually am. If not, I'm still not the owner.
"Have you ever been in love? Horrible, isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses. You build up this whole armor, for years, so nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life… You give them a piece of you. They don't ask for it. They do something dumb one day like kiss you, or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so a simple phrase like 'maybe we should just be friends' or 'how very perceptive' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul- hurt, a body- hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. Nothing should be able to do that. Especially not love. I hate love."
-Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9 (Sorry for the long quote. It's going to make sense, sadly.)
Chapter 19: Wilted Hearts and Broken Wings
Daniel woke up to a light being shone in his eyes, burning through his eyelids and turning his vision a fleshy red. Daniel blearily opened his eyes, squinting from the brightness of the different fluorescent lights. "He's awake," he heard a man exclaim from his right. When the light dimmed from blinding to tolerable, Daniel looked around, noticing his new hospital room. He lifted his head up slightly, straining his neck to see the half a dozen machines that constantly beeped at the foot of his bed. Letting his eyes stray a little farther down he noticed the bandages wrapped around his chest and the tubes linked in and on his arm and fingers, setting his head down from exhaustion.
Daniel rotated his head, wincing slightly as his cramped muscles protested from being moved against their will. From the corner of his eye, he saw a nurse turning back to face Daniel, leaning forward in his chair. "Welcome back," he said kindly, "That was a real scary condition you were put in."
Daniel shut his eyes again, feeling them dry up from the exposure to the light and air. "What happened?" he croaked, his voice sounding like a frog from not being used in a while.
The nurse answered, "The officials found you in the middle of a smoldering crater with two girls from Beacon and your mother." He noticed Daniel stiffen slightly, quickly moving on, "The girls are fine- they apparently arrived on the scene just a minute or so before the police."
"And my mom?" Daniel asked. When he didn't hear a response from the nurse, he cracked open his eyes, filling quickly with panic. "What happened to my mom?" he urged.
The nurse rubbed the back of his neck, his expression lost. "The thing is…," he drawled, "we don't really know. She passed on from blood loss, we deduced that. But...," he sighed, "well, it's hard to explain."
Daniel felt him sink in his bed, his worst fears confirmed. "Mom…" he breathed, tears starting to fill his eyes.
Pairs of feet hitting the tiled floor filled Daniel's ears as he heard at least three people enter his room. Daniel paid barely any attention as the nurse and one of the ones that entered exchanged words. He felt someone sit at the edge of his bed. "How are you, Daniel?" Daniel heard Ozpin's voice ask.
"If I told you how I actually feel," Daniel answered, "I'll probably be kicked out for my profanity."
"He's fine. Mentally," Ozpin reassured the spectators, his voice growing a little lighter. He turned back to the healing boy. "Do you remember what happened in the warehouse?"
Daniel remained silent for a few moments. "Can you tell me what happened?" Ozpin asked.
"Do I have a choice?" Daniel shot back, shutting his eyes to try and suppress the influx of memories.
"Yes, you do," Ozpin assured, "You don't have to tell me now, or at all for that matter. But, it would help tremendously if-."
"Headmaster Ozpin," the doctor interrupted, "It's probably best if you don't put as much strain on our patient if you mind."
Ozpin sighed. "Yes, I understand." He stood up from his seat on the bed, looking at Daniel one last time. Contemplating the pros and cons, Ozpin continued, "Show him the photos."
Daniel blinked. "What… what pictures?" he questioned.
The doctor blinked at Ozpin. "I'm sorry, what?" he exploded, "You can't possibly mean for me to bring out those. They'll traumatize him, and he's just barely recovered!"
"Oh, I'm not asking," Ozpin clarified, walking away with his cane swinging freely by his side, "I'm telling you to show it to him."
Daniel watched as the professor walked out of the room, his gaze still on the doorway even after Ozpin's departure. Suddenly, he turned to the doctor. "What pictures?" he insisted.
The doctor exchanged a glance with the nurse, internally debating. "Son, you should probably get some rest," he gently suggested, "You still haven't recovered from what you-."
Daniel shot up from the covers, sitting up and glaring at the doctor with intense eyes. "What pictures?" he growled.
The doctor paled as he locked eyes with Daniel's red and blue ones. Eventually, he relented with a sigh. "Zuri," he called, "bring them in."
"But, sir," the nurse tried to protest, "Are we really sure-."
"Just show them," the doctor interrupted, "He's going to have to find out sooner or later."
Zuri was opening his mouth to shoot back a response when he thought twice about it. His shoulders slightly slumped in defeat, Zuri walked over to a small white cupboard in the corner of the room, near the door. He opened it with a low squeak, reaching around for a small folder. When he pulled out the thin brown folder, Zuri slammed the door shut, walking back over and handing it gently to an inpatient Daniel who snatched it away quickly. "I'm sorry," Zuri managed out before leaving the room.
Daniel, in slight confusion, horror, and curiosity, flipped open the folder slowly. Inside were pictures. Dozens of pictures of the same thing. A mangled body. The arms dotted with blood stains and black feathers were Daniel's first clue. The golden hair was the next. The lithe frame and familiar facial features made her strikingly familiar, but Daniel couldn't manage to piece the clues together. Or rather, he refused to. "I thought," he choked up, "I thought I saved her, though."
The doctor shook his head, not daring to look up at Daniel. "She died before you tried your stunt, at least that's what the girls say." He walked over next to Daniel's side, thumbing through a couple of the photos. "This," he pulled a particular one out, "is what you did."
Daniel took the photo with trembling hands, his eyes not agreeing with what his eyes saw. Along Photo Hazel's neck wasn't a scar. There wasn't the split skin that appeared from the incision in her neck. Her throat looked like it hadn't been pierced. Actually, he could barely make out her neck at all.
In its position was a blob. There wasn't a better word for it. It was a mass of something… unnatural. Between Hazel's chin and her collarbone was a deformed, expanded mass of pinkish skin that bloated to go past her chin and almost touched her ears. Hundreds of black feathers poked out at irregular intervals, almost like they were jabbed into her neck at random. The horror didn't end as sticking out from the sides were white stick-like figures. It took Daniel a second to realize that they were bones. Small, thin bones that sharpened into points at the ends, making the blob appear like it donned a bony and feathery frill.
Daniel gently touched the blob in the picture, tears streaming down the sides of his face. "What did I do…" he breathed, his breath coming out in sharp, rigid, shallow gasps.
The doctor watched Daniel with sympathetic eyes. "We know what your Semblance does," he informed gently, putting a hand softly on Daniel's arm, "We know what you were trying to do."
Daniel continued to be fixated on the cruel photo, his shoulders shaking with unshed sobs. "What did I do?" he repeated.
The doctor backed away slowly, standing at the foot of Daniel's bed. "Can you please reach out and touch your back?"
Daniel complied, hooking his arm and feeling the strips of bandage circling around his torso. Then, with a sudden realization, he looked at the doctor with a horrified expression, a small look in his eyes. The doctor closed his eyes, nodding to Daniel's dismay. "You used your own body mass," he affirmed with a grim expression, "We know how your Semblance works; you can't make things out of nothing, so you used the closest alternative- yourself."
Daniel's stomach couldn't take any more of the burden. He spazzed out, falling out of the bed with a thud. He dully noted that the doctor was at his side, a hand on his back as he pushed a bucket beneath Daniel's head. A moment later, Daniel began to wretch, the acidic slime hitting the plastic bucket with a sickening squelch. The stench coming from the whitish-yellow goo mixed with the already throat-closing smell of bleach and antibiotics, making it unbearable for Daniel's already compromised stomach.
The doctor sighed as he watched his patient continue to empty out anything that remained in his stomach. "This is why I didn't want to show the pictures to him, Ozpin," he grumbled to himself. Directing his attention back to Daniel, he disclosed in a soft voice, "No one can play God, son. Doctors know this fact too well, and you will as well."
Daniel barely heard the last word before darkness consumed him, passing out in his own vile vomit.
-xXxX-Line Break-XxXx-
The next time Daniel awoke, sunlight streamed into the room, lighting it up with a nicer, warmer feeling. Daniel moaned as he tried to block out the blinding light with his eyes, eventually giving up to sit up attentively. Just as he pushed himself up with his hands, he was tackled back as a mass of brown and black slammed into his chest. "You're awake!" the person exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Daniel's chest.
Daniel chuckled lightly as he gently patted the girl on the back. "Nice to see you, too, Coco," he replied. It was calming, holding the girl to his chest without having to fear anything.
As he continued to have that thought, a fist smashed into his elbow. Daniel yelped as the muscles in his arm started screaming from not being used in days. "That's what you get," Coco grumbled, raising her head to glare seriously into Daniel's eyes, tears starting to fill her the brims of her eyes, "You idiot! I thought you were supposed to be smarter than to charge into a building on the premise of two vague tips from two people you hate!"
Daniel winced as Coco explained his foolish plan. "When you put it that way…" he drawled. Coco buried her face into Daniel's hospital gown again, letting Daniel pat down her hair in comfort. "I'm sorry you guys were dragged into this."
"Two things," Coco answered, "One, sorry doesn't cut it; you're making it up to me by a shopping spree-."
Daniel laughed at Coco's simplistic request. "I'll keep that in mind," he agreed.
He felt Coco unwillingly crack a smirk. "Good," she went on, "And two, I'm not the one who you should be apologizing to."
Daniel's expression turned solemn, closing his eyes and sighing deeply. "Yeah," he drawled, "There's RWBY I'm going to have to worry about."
Coco nodded, peeling herself off Daniel's chest. "You're in a lot of deep shit," Coco laughed, but she had to wipe her eyes as tears started to form. She stood up straight, backing away from his bed. She took another few seconds to examine Daniel. Coco smiled. "Welcome back, Daniel," she ended, walking out the door.
"Wait!" Daniel exclaimed right as she was about to exit. Coco put a hand on the doorframe, waiting. "Did you know?" Daniel asked in merely a whisper, "About my mom?"
Coco stood silently for a minute. Finally, she spoke: "Velvet and I were both there when you tried to save her." She turned around, a sad glint in her eyes. "Neither of us blame you for what you tried to do." With that, she turned to corner, out of sight but not out of mind.
Daniel stared blankly down at his sheets, vaguely noticing the tear stains on his shirt where Coco cried. Two thoughts went 'round and 'round in his head, the answers skirting just out of range like a task that always had another step to it. "How did it go so wrong?" "What do I do now?"
The same nurse found him in the exact same position half an hour later with his head bowed. "Nice to know you're feeling better," the nurse commented lightly, "Anything you need- food, a book, or something?"
Daniel finally peeled his eyes away and focused on the nurse. Zuri, if he remembered correctly. "How long was I out?" he asked, his voice hoarse and wavering.
"Since that night: four days more or less. You woke up two days ago and then passed out until today."
"What about the other girls?" Daniel asked.
"The girls on your team, right? The ones injured at Beacon?" Zuri clarified. When Daniel nodded, he continued, "They're mostly fine. Miss Schnee had to stay for a few days here. She got checked out yesterday, I believe."
Daniel nodded, his eyes glazing over as he stared out the window, looking expressionlessly at the mid-morning sky. "Could I," he croaked, "Could I make a call?"
The nurse smiled as he dug out his Scroll. "Sure, kid," Zuri replied. He handed to Daniel, saying, "May I ask who you're calling?"
Daniel punched in a few numbers, offhandedly responding, "Ozpin."
Surprise flickered on the man's face before it morphed into a look of confusion. "Wouldn't you like to talk to your team first?" he asked, clueless.
Daniel scoffed lightly, a sad expression on his face while the Scroll rang. "Believe me," he muttered, "They would like to see just about anyone besides me right now."
A beat passed as the scroll continued to ring. Zuri opened his mouth to say, "No one's going to blame you for being at the wrong place at the wrong time," being ignored as Daniel clenched his fist at the memory of that night.
Daniel was about to shoot back a retort before the Scroll rang one last time. "Hello?" Opzin's voice was heard over the transceiver.
"Headmaster?" Daniel replied, drumming his fingers against his leg rapidly as his palms started to sweat.
"Ah, Daniel," Ozpin said, his chair creaking slightly as Daniel listened to him sit forward attentively, "I presume you're ready?"
"Yeah," Daniel affirmed with a sigh, his mouth void of any moisture, "I think I'm ready to talk about it."
"Are you sure? I'd rather wait a few more days than miss an important detail tod-."
"No," Daniel interrupted, "I mean, sorry, Headmaster. But I think I remember most of it."
"As you wish," the gray-haired man calmly replied, "I'll be there as quickly as I can." Just as Daniel was about to say his goodbye, Ozpin added, "I hope you're ready for what comes in the future."
"I hope so, too," Daniel answered quietly, listening to the beeping that meant the end of the call. Daniel exhaled deeply, handing the scroll back to its rightful owner. "Zuri, is it?" he called for the nurse.
"Yep, that's me," Zuri answered.
"Can you get me some water, please?" Daniel asked, letting his head thump against the pillows beneath him, "I'm going to have to do a lot of talking."
-xXxX-Line Break-XxXx-
Ozpin sat back in his chair, his shoulders slumped by the gravity of Daniel's explanation. "That is," he started, "a lot to take in."
It was currently noon in the hospital, a detail Daniel only remembered based on his stomach growling in hunger (or that could've been from the days he didn't have a solid meal). Ozpin sat in a chair by Daniel's bedside, listening to the teen give his detailed version of what happened when he left Beacon. Glynda was with them, jotting down notes based on Daniel's words. She only showed her true feelings when frowning during Hazel's death and Holly's return.
"Yeah," Daniel replied, taking a sip of water. He set the glass down in his lap, his fingers drumming rapidly against the sides.
Ozpin remained noiseless for a few seconds. Then, he asked, "What was it that 'The Queen' said? Why she wasn't afraid of me, I mean."
Daniel squinted hard, trying to recall that instant. "Something about you not knowing what's going on under your nose," he remembered, "And something about 'The Queen has pawns'? Does that mean something?"
Ozpin nodded absently, turning in his chair to stare at his coworker. "Scan Beacon's data," he commanded, "All of it. We have a leak, or worse, a virus creating multiple ones."
The platinum-blonde took her eyes away from her tablet, startled. "Sir?" she questioned.
"This 'Queen' has made a sloppy move," Ozpin declared, standing up and pacing back and forth, "Only three people know of that message, and none of us can be moles." He turned back to Daniel. "Are you sure she didn't give any more clues?"
Daniel shook his head, confusion dominating his features. "No, Headmaster," he answered.
Ozpin nodded as he turned his head to examine Goodwitch, still standing there with a serious expression. "Cleanse the systems," he demanded, "Stop the virus before it intrudes every system. And make sure the CCT Tower isn't affected, either; that's what the thief planted during the dance."
"Thief?" Daniel echoed as Goodwitch ducked out of the room, "Dance? What are you-?"
"Now's not the time," Ozpin interrupted, "I'll try and tell you what you need to know once you're better. For now," he started towards the exit, "rest up. Adapt to the changes and live. That is what a Hunter does, after all."
"Wait!" Daniel exclaimed, making Ozpin stop. "What about the threats? The ones made if I didn't join. Seeing as how I'm here, I'm guessing I didn't comply. What happens to Ruby, Yang, the others?"
"There should be no worry," Ozpin assured, "Beacon has the most secure defenses and security, not to mention the Atlas troops roaming the city."
"That didn't stop them from the… hack you and Professor Goodwitch mentioned," Daniel argued.
"True," Ozpin admitted, "What would you like me to do? Impose a curfew on your team? Make a professor escort them from location to location?" Ozpin rapped his fingertips against his cane. "None of the options are appealing, both for your team and for our situation- if we make it so they are safeguarded, your assailants will know instantly, making your team more of a target than ever."
"So you're using them as bait?" Daniel exploded.
"I did not say that," Ozpin answered calmly, "If we keep your team just as it is, these adversaries won't be any the wiser. This knowledge needs to be kept a secret, hidden so suspicion won't arise. If these people know that you've told me about the threats, what else do you think you told me, potentially tipping them off and enhancing their plans forward? No, we must be subtle to our approach, or else everything we've learned will go to waste."
Daniel finally settled down, the tension releasing from his shoulders. A more solemn expression settled on his face. "And what about Holly?" he asked quietly, "Is there a chance to get her back?"
Ozpin stayed silent for a few seconds, contemplating on how to put it. "It's not as easy as it should be," he finally replied, "She might've forgotten her near-death experience and had her memories altered by the Queen she looks up to. Or she could've formed the thoughts on her own." Daniel's shoulders sagged, the tiredness in his eyes all the more predominant as he bowed his head. "In any case, we can't determine what the cause of how she behaves, let alone correct it." Ozpin sighed as Daniel closed his eyes in defeat, laying back with his arms splayed out on the bed. "I'm sorry, but unless you can awaken specific memories that could help her, there's almost no chance of bringing your version of Hazel back. Try and cure a disease without knowing the disease itself, with no medicine, and with no idea how to treat it even if you know what it is. This is the predicament we're put in right now."
Shaking his head, Daniel settled back into his covers. "I honestly don't follow your train of thought," he admitted, "but I got the gist of it."
Ozpin chuckled lightly as he stood in the doorframe, turning around one more time with his cane in tow. "All I need from you now," he said, "is for you to be fully rested and back in Beacon as quickly as possible."
Daniel closed his eyes while the sound of Ozpin's shoes clicking against tiles filled his ears. "Oh, and one last thing," Ozpin remembered, "I contacted Team RWBY about your condition. I will assume at least one will appear in… oh, about-."
A second pair of shoes, hitting the ground like a drum, interrupted Ozpin as they skidded to a halt. "Where is he?" Daniel heard a girl question.
Ozpin chuckled slightly as his footsteps resumed. "I'll leave you to it."
Daniel peeked his eyes from behind his eyelids, gazing at the doorway. Standing there was the girl of his dreams. The familiar red cape draping behind her, the red highlights in her dark-brown hair, and especially the stunning silver eyes. "Hey, Rubes," Daniel greeted meekly, groaning softly as he sat up.
A small red blur crossed the room, pushing Daniel back down onto the bed. Daniel hissed as the wounds on his back screamed. Realizing what happened, the girl in red lessened the pressure but kept her hold around Daniel's neck as tight as ever. "Don't do that to us," Ruby sniffled.
Daniel's heart clenched at the heartbreaking sound, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend. "I'm sorry, Ruby," he croaked out, his throat constricting from raw emotion, "I- I'm so sorry."
Daniel felt tears forming in Ruby's eyes, dripping onto his blue gown and darkening it with salty drops. "I thought- I thought you died," she sobbed, her hold on Daniel's neck tightening.
He didn't notice the tears forming in his own eyes until one hit his hand, wiping it away as Ruby continued to cling onto his neck. "I'm sorry," he echoed hollowly, "I couldn't help anyone- it was selfish of me."
"Don't say that," Ruby interjected, "You tried to save your mom. Anyone else that wouldn't do that is an idiot. You were just doing what was right."
"Even hurting your teammates?" Daniel asked bitterly.
"Oh, Yang?" Ruby's voice was muffled by his gown, "You just trapped her- she's fine."
Daniel blinked when Ruby didn't go on. "Wait," he started, peeling Ruby off him to cup her cheeks with both hands, "That's it? No one else?"
Ruby shook her head, wiping snot away from her lips. "Weiss and Blake were both hurt when they were fighting Adam," she explained, making Daniel's eyes go wide.
Daniel ducked his head, muttering, "Why would they do that?"
"Because you're their friend," Ruby replied, not understanding Daniel's questioned as she playfully punched his shoulder.
Daniel remained silent for a bit too long, worry growing inside Ruby. Before she could ask about it, Daniel himself asked, "How are they?"
Ruby's face was smothered into Daniel's neck, making him instinctively jacket her with his arms. "Yang was fine," Ruby replied, "Blake's face is going to scar a bit, and Weiss had a knife in her leg." Under her breath, she muttered, "Last time I checked."
"Wait," Daniel inquired, stroking Ruby's hair, "Last time you checked? What does that mean?"
"It means they lied," Ruby snapped uncharacteristically, gazing into Daniel's eyes with a fiery anger, "They lied to me. They lied to both of us." Ruby felt tears form again, burrowing her face into Daniel's heart. "Everything could've been avoided," she whispered, "if they just told us."
Realization dawned on Daniel's face. "They told you about Adam's message, didn't they?" he asked. When Ruby nodded in response, Daniel sighed. "Ruby," he started, "even if they did lie to us, you shouldn't just push them away."
"They started this mess," she huffed, her fists clenching behind Daniel's back, "If they just told us, you wouldn't have been like this."
Daniel winced as Ruby unknowingly was repeating a lie he told himself the past few days. "It wouldn't've changed anything," he reasoned, "I would've still gone to save my mom, no matter what."
Ruby remained silent for a heartbeat. "Why are you defending them?" she questioned the familiar red and blue eyes, gazing up at them, "They lied to you, too."
Daniel exhaled through his nose, looking out the window. "Maybe it's because I feel a bit guilty," he admitted, "I should've been the one to help them take down Adam, not take them down because they were in my way."
Ruby tried to bury her face back into Daniel's chest before he gently lifted her head by her chin, a finger angling her head. Daniel rested his forehead against hers. "Let's not talk about that anymore," he suggested, "I'm here, you're here with me, all of us are alive."
The girl in red smiled, tears still falling but not streaming. "Sure," she agreed, leaning forward and kissing Daniel.
Daniel strengthened the kiss, wrapping his arms around Ruby as her arms went around his neck.
"Everything you love for your oath."
Daniel's eyes furrowed as the thought crossed his mind, dozens more following behind it.
"Someone else special in your heart? A little… gem in your life?"
Daniel tried to ignore his head, deepening the kiss as Ruby pressed against him, laying on him.
"Maybe a sickness you'd like to cure in your heart?"
"A rose you might love?"
Daniel had to push Ruby away, his arms on her shoulders as she leaned over him, a look of confusion on her face. "What's wrong?" she asked gently.
Daniel couldn't see his girlfriend's face. "Oh, the vulnerability of the girl. No one would think twice if her stomach gave way. After all, she is in a very terrible condition." The Grimm mask staring at him seared his mind. Smirking endlessly as he tried to escape the prison that was his own head.
"You should have joined us," he could hear the same, honey-like voice pierce his brain, "Now, you face the consequences." The grinning Grimm mask leaned in closer. "I did warn you what would happen, didn't I?"
"Daniel?" he vaguely heard Ruby call out. He shook his head, clearing his mind as he finally descended back into reality. When his vision cleared of that memory, he could see Ruby still leaning over him, worry and fear seeping into her eyes. "Are you okay?"
Daniel tried to shoot her a halfhearted grin but only managed out a grimace. "Sorry," he apologized in a whisper, letting his arms go slack and Ruby laying against his chest, "I just… I'm just remembering."
Ruby looked up with sympathetic eyes. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked softly.
Daniel opened his mouth for a few seconds before shutting it again. He sighed as he unwrapped his arms from Ruby's sides. "No," he replied, "I'm just… I'm just extremely tired."
Ruby shifted awkwardly, sitting up and moving to the edge of Daniel's bed. "I could leave if you want," she suggested.
"I don't want to be a nuisance to you," Daniel said, "You probably have class right now, don't you?" When his girlfriend remained silent, he gave her a gentle nudge. "Go," he said softly, "And while you're at it, try and make it up with your team- they don't deserve the hate you're giving them."
"No promises," Ruby grumbled under her breath.
Daniel noticed Ruby's gloomy expression. "Tell you what," he mused, "I'll ask the doctors if I can get out tomorrow. If I can, meet me at the entrance at Beacon."
Ruby's face brightened at the prospect. "Okay," she exulted, giving Daniel a small peck on the lips, both of them smiling as they felt the familiar pressure. Ruby got up and skipped towards the exit, tear stains on her cheeks but with a smile gracing her lips. She turned around one last time, waving back. "See you tomorrow!" she announced before turning the corner.
If she stayed a bit longer, Ruby would've noticed Daniel's smile morph into a frown, looking deep into thought. "See 'ya," he echoed silently, not moving a muscle.
-xXxX-Line Break-XxXx-
Over the next two days, Ruby felt something was missing. Or rather, something felt… different. Ever since Daniel got out of the hospital a day before, she always could see some change to him, sometimes subtle but other times screaming at her while she couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. Sure, Daniel's promise of meeting her at the entrance of Beacon held true, and later he did take her back to the same diner run by Annabeth, but it all went downhill so quickly.
It started out with small, almost unnoticeable details: only going with a few kisses instead of pressing them on, the gap between them when they ate together, the way he never started anything anymore. Then, there were the more noticeable ones like how the second day transitioned to.
When Ruby leaned in to kiss him during breakfast, he turned away at the last second, letting her lips hit his cheek instead. She pulled away, frowning slightly, but didn't think much of it at the time. Then, the hugs got shorter. Their conversations were cut. As the evening pulled away, Ruby didn't even see Daniel for hours at a time. It shouldn't have been unusual, but it still made her suspicious and uncomfortable. Not to mention that all midterms were over, and most students were already packed up to leave at the end of the semester.
When the third day pulled around, Ruby decided to try and surprise her boyfriend.
After all, it was the last day they would be together for a good few weeks.
Ruby was skipping cheerfully down the halls, hands behind her back as she tried to hide her gift. Eventually, she came to the door she was after and knocked three times, sitting back and waiting for a response.
Daniel finally poked his head out of his room, confused when he saw Ruby standing there. "Ruby? What are you doing here?" he asked.
Ruby took the small bouquet of flowers from behind her back. "Surprise!" she exclaimed with a bright grin, "I thought it would cheer you up!"
Daniel accepted the gift with a confused smile. "Thanks?" he said more as a question. Daniel gestured towards his room, opening the door fully. "Come on in. Try and make yourself at home." He winced at his poor choice of wording.
Ruby skipped into the dimly lit room, taking in her surroundings. She noted the suitcase in the corner, right next to the box of Dust and a backpack. "Oh, you're leaving for winter break?" she asked, sitting on his bed.
Daniel closed the door, gloomily going back to packing. "Yeah," he managed out in a small grunt.
Ruby narrowed her eyes at Daniel's downtrodden expression. "What's wrong?" she implored, "You look like you're not coming back."
Daniel chuckled to himself without humor. "You don't know the half of it." "Something like that," he said, biting back his sarcastic retort.
Ruby frowned. "Well, why are you wasting time, moping in your room? You should be trying to make the best of things, right?"
"Right, make the best of things," Daniel echoed, stuffing another vial of Dust into its proper container.
Ruby got up and tugged on Daniel's arm lightly, a small and sad smile plastered on her face. "So, come on! Enjoy some time with your girlfriend!" she suggested.
"This is probably my only chance." "Ruby," Daniel started hesitantly, "About that…"
Ruby looked at Daniel, concern replacing her normally upbeat mood. "What's the matter?" she asked, "You still want to hang out with me, right?"
Daniel sighed, steeling himself. "I think it's best if you left me now," he said, setting his jaw.
Ruby felt downtrodden, slowly backing away from him. "I'm sorry," she apologized, "I'm sorry for overstepping a line. I'll come back tomorrow."
Daniel shot up from where he previously knelt, reaching out towards Ruby. "No, wait, Ruby!" Daniel called out just before she was placing her hand on the doorknob. She looked back with hope in her eyes. "That's not what I meant. I think… I think we should stop seeing each other."
Ruby's hope drained as quickly as it came. "W-what do you mean?" she sputtered, walking back towards Daniel.
Daniel looked Ruby dead in the eyes and said, "I think we should break up."
"No."
Daniel looked up at Ruby, completely bewildered. "What?"
"No," she echoed, a horrified expression enveloping her face, "No, absolutely not. Why would you even suggest that?"
Daniel stared at her, at a loss of words. "Because it's the right thing to do," he eventually managed out, his voice quivering slightly.
Ruby's heart clenched. "Don't say that," she whispered. Then, in a louder, more commanding tone, she said, "Don't you dare say that! You don't mean it!"
Daniel lowered his head, not meeting Ruby's pleading gaze. "I do," he admitted, "You shouldn't see me, and I shouldn't see you."
Salty tears started to form in Ruby's eyes. "No you don't," she argued, trying as hard as she could to put all her emotions into her voice, "You don't want to leave." When Daniel gave no answer, she asked, her voice barely a whisper, "Is it something I did?"
"No," Daniel denied immediately, giving Ruby some relief. "Yes," Daniel said, shaking his head and making Ruby shake in fear and grief. "Maybe? I… it's complicated," Daniel eventually said, rubbing his temples with his thumb and index finger.
"How is it complicated?" Ruby exasperated, throwing her arms out to emphasize her point. "It's either I said something or I didn't! Please," her tone became worried and pleading, "we can talk through this."
"No, we can't," Daniel shot down immediately.
Ruby shook her head, trying her hardest to deny what was happening. "No," she said, steeling herself and her voice, "You're not leaving. I'm not allowing you to leave my side."
Daniel shook his head, still not meeting Ruby's eyes as he stared at the carpet. "It won't work out," he argued weakly.
"It wasn't ever supposed to work out," Ruby pointed out stubbornly, "I'm the weird, introverted girl and you're a guy that makes extremely rash decisions at times. By all means, this shouldn't have worked out. But we made it work. And we'll keep making it work."
"You're so freaking childish!" Daniel exploded, "Stop thinking nothing's changed since we started dating! The more I started to get to know you, the more I hated you!" Lies, he mentally chided himself, "You try and act without a care in the world. Well, guess what, it gets so old, stupid, and childish!" Lies, "There's not a thing you can take seriously, not even our relationship!" Lies, "You're the worst person I could ever be matched up with!" Lies.
Smack.
Daniel's head snapped back as his hand shot up, gingerly holding his jaw in shock. "Don't say that," Ruby said in barely a whisper, venom slightly creeping in her voice. Her hand was outstretched from the follow-through of the slap, slowly numbing in pain. "Don't say that," Ruby repeated, "You don't mean any of it."
Daniel laughed mockingly as he stared at his girlfriend. "No," he thought, "Acquaintance." "Surprise, surprise," he mocked in a dark tone, "I did. I meant every word." He leaned in close so he was inches away from Ruby's face, his breath waving over Ruby's face. "Every. Single. Word," he snarled cruelly.
Smack.
Daniel winced as Ruby's palmed found its way towards the exact same spot she slapped before. "I don't give a damn," Ruby snapped, "I'm not letting go of the person that kept me fighting. I don't care about what you think, about what my team thinks, or about what anyone in this world thinks. If I choose to date you, that's my choice." Tears were now streaming from Ruby's face as she sniffled slightly.
Daniel smiled cruelly. "You know," he started, ready to drop his last bombshell, "I never really loved you." Lies, "You were just a filler."
Ruby stared at Daniel, not knowing if she truly knew the person that stood in front of her. "W-what?" she stammered.
"You heard me!" Daniel stated, lips curling into a snarl while trying to smile at Ruby's expression, "I never loved you. I just started to hang out with you to fill the hole in my heart. My heart was never really for you- it was for Echo."
Something in Ruby snapped. Her blood chilled as her heart stopped working, her breath hitching in her throat. "No," she said in barely a whisper.
"Oh, yes, Rubes," Daniel spat her nickname mockingly. He shrugged indifferently like he just told her his favorite food wasn't pasta. "I'm actually surprised it took you this long to notice," he jeered, "Well, it's over now."
Ruby stared at Daniel, a disgusted look on her face. "You're an ass, you know that?" she scoffed, tears now starting to form a puddle as she wiped some snot away with her sleeve.
Daniel smirked. "And you've been kissing one for the past month or so," he shot back, "How does it feel?"
Ruby huffed in disbelief, turning around and quickly running down the halls, her sobs echoing off the walls. When he knew she wasn't coming back, at least for a while, Daniel collapsed, staring at the ground with a blank expression. I just did that.
Shut up. It was for the best.
"For the best, right," Daniel mumbled, mechanically getting up and repacking. "It was for the best," he repeated his mantra.
It was for the best. An image of Ruby laughing for the first time in Daniel's memory appeared, watching a flashback of his time reminiscing under the cherry blossom.
For the best. He remembered how hopeful Ruby was when he made his promise. His promise to never leave her while she was dying.
For the best. Daniel couldn't get the image of Ruby's heartbroken face from just moments ago.
For the best.
But for the best of whom?
"I'm so sorry, Ruby," Daniel whispered to himself, eventually giving in and shedding a lone tear, "It's for your own sake." The floodgates broke, and Daniel collapsed into heartbroken sobs.
Just a few floors below him, Ruby sat on her bed, broken. A fractured heart, a mind in turmoil, and a body that refused to move. Ruby was locked in as a prisoner of her own body. "Why?" she asked herself, sobbing into her knees, "What did I do?" She continued to hug her knees, feeling a small clatter where her neck was. She pulled her legs away slightly, reaching down and pulling the necklace into view. Ruby choked back another sniffle as she unclasped the beautiful red and silver jewelry, throwing it roughly against the opposite wall. In an instant, her face streamed with tears again, a blanket being used to try and dry up her cheeks.
Why would you do this to me, Daniel?
It's for your own good. Your own good. Your own good…
AN: Wow... um... yeah, I did that. Ok, I'm honestly a bit sorry for this chapter. I started reading the Kite Runner recently, and I saw a few similarities from the very first chapters with this one. That... that just makes me feel happy yet conflicted. So, I'm sorry but deal with it.
I tried to push away most cliches from my story for obvious reasons. But I had to go with the betrayal cliche because it was one of those things that can be extremely amazing if it's written correctly (hope I'm one of them).
I'm rambling again...
Reviews!
Apparently, I wasn't able to fool anyone on Holly's big reveal since ThatGreenDooredBookshop, Boyy2k, and G3r1k all weren't exactly surprised. Shame, I thought I did better...
G3r1k: Yeah, now you're probably crying over both. Yay, tragedy stories!
Boyy2k: If it ain't perfect, make it. There's my counter response. But still, thanks for the support!
TheGreenDooredBookshop: ...Ok, you should probably not go that into the torture zones that is... whatever you wrote (I'm not repeating it for obvious reasons). I'm most definitely not going to torture Holly to get her killed. At least, not more than Cinder has. Also, she isn't more of a traitor as a misguided individual. You wouldn't call Luke Castellan a bad guy, but you would definitely call Kronos one. Emerald's not going to have that happen to her, but it's close. Mercury... you went straight Achilles there. Never go straight Achilles. Thanks for the review, but that's a bit... disturbing...
Estella Hughes (Chapter 3): YESSSS. I DID IT. SOMEONE CRIED OVER THE INTERNET BECAUSE OF WORDS I WROTE. YAY! But seriously, thanks for taking the time to read my stuff, even if it makes you sad.
CEREBUS77: I dunno, what does Daniel not have crap on?
And that's about all I have in terms of reviews.
I actually had this chapter planned out since the beginning, right with the cancer chapter and the last 2 chapters. So I'm pretty happy with how they turned out.
Also, I'm going to put up another poll. Let's see if you understand what's going to happen just based on the question.
"Who do you like more: Blake or Weiss?"
A few notes really quickly:
Zuri is white in Basque.
Songs I listened to while writing this: Undertones by M. Bulteau, Shelter and Sad Machine by Porter Robinson, the entire Hamilton soundtrack, Breakeven, and stuff from Jeff Williams. Also, if any of you listen to the8bitdrummer on Twitch, hello!
Well, that's all I have left.
Signing out, Flames of Fire.