AN: Yeah, I'm sorry. I got extremely sick of writing after November. 50k words in one month, then like 3000 for the next. Thank god I had two chapters for buffer. I'll get the next chapter by next year. Hopefully the 31st.
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY.
Chapter 29: Locked Up
Weiss hopped over Ruby's crouched figure, careful not to impale her partner as she did so. The first Beowolf to a sliver rapier point in its head, disappearing in a brilliant smoke. With a swish of her sword, three glyphs formed in front of Weiss, slowing the advance of the incoming Grimm that had their mouths wide for a chomp, claws in front of them as they pounced on her.
Like how they practiced, Ruby took point again. "Let it go," she shouted behind her, her weapon already moving as Weiss's Semblance dissipated. One slash, and three heads rolled before they went up like the first Beowolf's.
"Nice!" Ruby laughed as the next Grimm came, jumping just out of the girl's swinging scythe's range. Looking more annoyed than anything, Ruby whirled her weapon down, scythe-point planted in the ground. Shaft pointed at the dog-like Grimm. Squeezing the trigger, a loud boom emitted- along with a bullet- from the barrel, ripping through the unsuspecting monster as it too disappeared.
Ruby grinned as she pulled her Crescent Rose out of the ground, turning around to quip at Weiss for a job well done. Her eyes widened as another Beowolf was upon her, a foot away from her throat at most. It was too late to try and block it or step away, so the girl closed her eyes and braced for the inevitable.
A low thck sounded in front of Ruby. When the pain of her aura flaring never came, the reaper peeked through one eye before they both flew open. The Beowolf still had its mouth wide, still a foot away. And jutting from its jaw- through the top of its head- was a spear of ice. Underneath, other icicles impaled, all lined up from tail to head. Surprise seemed to gleam in its eyes before it crumbled to dust.
"What was that?" Weiss demanded, eyes still on her partner as she waved at their teammate to stop the training. The Grimm around the perimeter flickered out of existence, and the lights came back at full intensity. Around them, the arena came back, showing Blake and Yang standing out of the ring along with Professor Goodwitch. The professor had her tablet with her, as usual, and the screen was whirling with activity.
Even while the world around Ruby lit up, she still had her head down and eyes on the ground as Weiss stomped up to her. "Three days," Weiss growled. "Is that all it takes?"
For their time Ozpin gave them to rest, Team RWBY had been trying their best to recover from the Breach. And once students trickled in from their various missions, eyes wide at the damage still in the main square, the girls decided to hit up the arena. While three of them were doing better than ever with the time for their muscles to reset, the same couldn't be said about their leader. "I'm sorry," Ruby apologized to the floor. "I got distracted."
The girl heard Weiss let out a deep breath as a hand landed on the back of her head. "Apologizing won't do you any good when you're hurt," Weiss scolded in a much softer voice than Ruby expected. And she gritted her teeth at that- it would've been so much nicer if the heiress would have yelled or scowled. "You have to stop thinking about him."
This time, Ruby was the one to release her own deep breath of frustration. "Again," she said.
"Ruby." Yang spoke up for the first time in an hour. "You've been at this for a long time. Maybe you should-"
"No," Ruby snapped with a shake of her had. She pulled her scythe back, head up and eyes blazing with determination. "Again."
"Miss Rose," Goodwitch interrupted Ruby's attempt to concentrate. "While I admire your dedication, brute-forcing yourself to train is detrimental to your mental psyche during a combat simulation. Perhaps you should come back tomorrow."
"But-" Her argument died as Goodwitch's eyes intensified the glare they gave Ruby. Honestly, how did she become so menacing with such a neutral expression? "Alright," Ruby conceded with a sigh.
It was fortunate for Goodwitch as well- for how long and how intense the girls had wanted to train, it had drained her tablet's battery. Part of her reason to stop Miss Rose's session was because it might have died with her tablet. "Excellent," the professor spoke. As she made her exit, Goodwitch gave each girl a piece of advice. "Miss Xiao Long- your footwork still needs improvement. Miss Schnee- make quicker decisions when approached by more than one opponent. Miss Belladonna- relying on a Semblance too much may be your downfall.
"And Miss Rose." Goodwitch stopped and turned at the glum girl. Her expression softened, too far away for any of them to notice. "I'd advise you to pick up meditation if you have trouble focusing. I believe your friend, Lie Ren, has some techniques." And with her words said, the professor vacated the training room, leaving the girls to ponder her words.
As the large doors closed behind the professor, Ruby groaned in frustration, her weapon collapsing with a flick of her wrist as she tucked it back in its loop on her back. For a moment, she looked like she wanted to yell at someone- especially Weiss, even if she had done nothing wrong. Then, without warning, Ruby spun around and headed for the door. "Where are you headed?" Weiss asked.
"Finding Ren," Ruby shouted over her shoulder, not sparing her partner a glance.
Weiss was about to run after the reaper, but a hand clamped on her shoulder, holding her in place. "Give her some time," Yang's voice said in the heiress's ear. Too low for her sister to hear. Weiss jumped at how close Yang had gotten, and then her eyes narrowed at the blonde's words. "She's my sister," Yang placated the girl, her eyes still on the Ruby as the girl left. "I know when she needs to vent a bit."
With gritted teeth, Weiss turned away from Yang. "No offense," she started, "Ruby's not the same. She's been venting a bit too much." A low blow, sure- Weiss's heart skipped a beat when a flash of hurt passed Yang's face. But she felt so helpless trying to turn Ruby back into the happy-go-lucky leader she'd adored.
And Yang just wanted them to adapt around this… mopey, teenage girl persona Ruby had?
Mopey may not have been the right word- that implied Ruby was unwilling to do anything when, in fact, she wanted to do everything. Target practice, combat training, team exercises, the mountain of homework that Ruby forgot to do for weeks. Weiss was unsettled by how active her partner had become.
Not just her activity, but how Ruby was doing everything. It was common of her to make a mistake here and there- maybe run into someone when her head was in the clouds. But the girl always laughed it off, albeit maybe with a light red in the face. Now, after the Breach, she began to make more mistakes- sloppy errors that Weiss had been weeding out of her for months like Ruby's tendency to be a bit too engrossed in having flair to her swings. And after every misstep, Ruby scowled herself and insisted on a second try. A third, fourth, then fifth, until she finally gave up or was forced to by her teammates.
The first time her friends spotted this was during a late-night session. Ruby sparred against Weiss, and the heiress was shocked to see her leader's grin paired with eyes too focused, too serious for her happy attitude. The first time she lost, Ruby jumped up, shaking off the bit of disappointment. "Again."
The second time, Ruby was no longer smiling. "Again."
The third, Weiss was the one on the ground after a loss. Yet, still… "Again."
The fourth-
"Weiss," Yang called out. The heiress shook herself out of her musings, refocusing back on the concern written on Yang's face. "Are you okay?"
With a deep breath, she replied: "Fine. And it's not me you should be worried about."
The heiress strode for the door, but once again a hand reached out and snatched her wrist. "You don't think I care?" Yang questioned, deadly serious in her voice.
"I think you just don't act like it!" Weiss spun around, fury equally as potent in her eyes as Yang's. Three days- no, three months- of pent up anger finally released. "There goes you sister, and you act like everything is the same. You don't push her, you don't consul her- you do nothing!"
"I-"
"Ruby's been having nightmares when she's daydreaming!" Weiss gritted her teeth, a horrible satisfaction filling her as horror flickered over Yang's face. "You don't think I can hear her cry in your bed when she thinks we are all asleep? She went out and bought a nightlight, for god sakes- and you're still doing nothing!"
"Then what do you think we should do?" Yang exploded. "Your solution seems to be to remind Ruby of Him every chance you get!"
"I try and help her," Weiss hissed. "I'm trying to help her get over him."
Yang scoffed. "She doesn't want to get over him," she argued.
In the next moment, Weiss was jabbing a finger into the blonde's chest. "And you don't find that concerning?" she demanded.
"Of course I do!"
"Then act like it!" Weiss exclaimed. "Stop pretending she's seven-years-old and throwing a tantrum. She needs our help, and you're…" She ran out of words, so the heiress resorted to a cry of frustration to get her point across.
As she was going to yell again, the third girl placed a placating hand on Weiss's shoulder. She received the full force of Weiss's glare and wasn't fazed, staring back with a calm expression. "Weiss," Blake said in a normal volume. "Calm down." When there was no indication Weiss listened to the faunus, she rolled here eyes. "At least put away Myrtenaster."
The glare froze, and a flicker of embarrassment made a brief appearance while she sheathed her rapier, not knowing it was in her hand during a good portion of their argument. "You too, Yang." Yang, looking abashed, uncocked her gauntlets as they folded back into their passive bracelet state.
Though their weapons went down, the tension in the air didn't. Weiss gave Yang one last disdainful look before whirling around, stomping for the exit. Because of her nature, Yang couldn't allow Weiss to leave without one last retort. "You have a sister," Yang yelled at the teen. The heiress stopped, posture rigid. "What would she do if this happened to you?"
Weiss's mouth went dry, her heart dropped as she thought about Winter. About her older sister's intense training regiment and how it loosened when their father decided to interfere with Weiss's childhood. "Exactly what you're doing," Weiss said in a whisper.
"And how'd that work out? You're here, aren't you?"
Yang's answer came a minute later. In a chillingly low voice, "And I despise her for what didn't do," Weiss replied. Leaving the two girls stunned, Weiss picked up her pace, speed-walking for the exit. The doors closed behind her, and she let out a shaky breath as her head tilted up. Eyes closed, Weiss leaned against the oak doors.
She was supposed to be the composed one, Weiss scolded herself. Though, it was more resignation than actual anger directed at herself. Weiss and Blake were supposed to be the calmer counterparts to their partners- at least, they were supposed to be a way to calm the sisters down. And Weiss blew it.
Shuffling feet interrupted Weiss's little self-guilt, making the heiress's eyes fly open as she scanned the hall. To her immediate right, standing next to the door she opened, a pair of wide, silver eyes stared at her. Now, Weiss wanted to curse herself for a different reason. "You heard all that, didn't you?" Weiss asked, already knowing the answer.
Ruby shuffled and squirmed, unable to meet her partner's eyes. "Yeah…" she mumbled. They were silent for a minute, unable to think of anything to say that wouldn't bring more awkwardness to the situation. "So," Ruby began, hesitating, "you and Jaune… when you wanted him to ask me for the Vytal Ball…"
Lying would have been so easy, but Weiss was never great at lying to her partner. Especially now, with her confession overheard. "That was for your sake," Weiss replied.
"So it wasn't-"
"It wasn't pity, no." Weiss sighed, clasping her hands together, looking down as she tried to put her thoughts into words. "Ruby, I- we- are concerned about your actions lately."
"Like what?" Ruby implored.
"You've been pushing yourself too much. Making mistakes you shouldn't be, your insistence to keep training- it is taking a toll on your… your mental fortitude."
Ruby tilted her head, confused by the paradox. "But I'm trying to train so I stop making those mistakes."
It took a bit of effort for Weiss to not snap in response like she usually did. Instead, the heiress took the thoughtful approach. "When you think too hard about something, you start to lose focus."
A pause. "I don't get it," Ruby admitted.
"Ruby, can you tell me why you wanted to come to Beacon?"
The question threw Ruby off-balance. Though, she always had that answer on-hand. "I wanted to be the hero," she said wistfully. "The bad-guy fighter and slayer of Grimm."
Weiss nodded, her assumptions reaffirmed. "But you're not doing that now."
"I'm-"
"Trying to help Farayan." Weiss paused as she hoped her next words wouldn't close Ruby off from her advice. "I… you're too focused on bringing Farayan back- in the best light, no less. It's not the boy you met in the forest." She could feel the familiar cold Ruby sunk back into whenever someone brought up Him. "Farayan- or Ash, whatever he calls himself- keeps trying to play with your emotions. Why do you want to help him this badly?"
Ruby was silent for the longest time. Weiss began to worry that an answer wouldn't come, but in a low murmur, it came. "Because he was my friend." Ruby looked up, a mix of sadness and coldness swimming in her sky-grey eyes. "And if I can't help my friend, how am I supposed to help others?"
There was the Ruby Philosophy the heiress expected. Yet, the same philosophy that would be her downfall if she kept up her habits. "You're harming us, though," Weiss said. "With you fretting over Farayan, you're trading off helping one friend for making the three of us worry." Ruby stayed silent, opening her mouth and closing it multiple times. "Even if she doesn't show it very well, Yang is worrying herself to death," Weiss went on. "And Blake most likely doesn't want to play the middle-girl between you and Yang."
And her? Weiss? The ice-cold heart cracked every time a frown marred Ruby's face. Weiss melted every time she heard that heartfelt giggle Ruby emitted, but she thawed out of her shell less and less for the past few months. With all the time she invested in the girl, Weiss felt like a part of her parted from herself whenever Ruby wept over Farayan.
Not like she was going to admit that any time soon- the frozen heart hadn't been raised like that, and she had a ways to go before Weiss would open up completely.
"But what if I could help him?" Ruby mumbled, bringing Weiss back to the present. "I- I think I found a way to save Farayan."
Weiss blinked. "Ruby, he's gone. You heard what Ozpin said."
"But Farayan- the Grimm- said he stole a part of Farayan's Aura. So maybe, if we could bring that part back…"
Weiss paused, wondering if she should allow the reaper to pursue this lane of passion or put a stop to her addiction. "What did you have in mind?" she hesitated to get the words out.
In response, Ruby pulled out her Scroll, clicking a few times to get to the images she saved. Shoving the device in Weiss's hands, Ruby stood back as her partner examined the texts Ruby had been reading over for the past few nights. "Ruby," Weiss said slowly. "You can't be serious."
"I am," the girl confirmed.
Weiss's head whipped up, almost glaring at Ruby with concern. "This is… convoluted and ridiculous, even for your standards."
"But what if it works?" Ruby clasped her hands over her partner's petite ones. Weiss heart skipped a beat- this time a happy one- while Ruby gave her a look of hope. "If it works, I can stop Farayan while also bringing the good in him back."
It would've killed Weiss to stop Ruby's endeavor, no matter how foolish she thought it was. "It's- it's based off nothing," Weiss stammered in denial. "Even then, the evidence it works is a religious belief. Nothing more." Still, that hopeful look didn't falter in Ruby's bright silver eyes. The heiress sighed, unable to deny her partner of this… insanity.
Even so, a part of her was happy to see Ruby so full of positive energy- genuine positivity, not the one she tried to fake. "Fine," Weiss sighed, "I will help you research this." She could already feel the squeal come from the girl. "However," Weiss held up a finger, "you are to follow everything I say concerning your training."
"Alright," Ruby quipped happily. And before Weiss could blink in surprise, Ruby had her arms around Weiss's neck, squeezing the air out of her partner in a tight hug. "Thank you," she whispered before dashing off.
Weiss was left in a daze, only coming back to her senses when Ruby was already halfway down the long hallway. "Wait, where are you going?" Weiss shouted after her.
Ruby spun around, not slowing down her pace. "The library," she yelled back.
A sigh escaped Weiss- she really wanted to keep researching her method as soon as possible. "Oh, no you don't." And Weiss was running after the rose petals. After the laughs that now filled the hall along with her heart.
-xXxX-Line Break-XxXx-
"He's ready?" Ironwood asked the officer walking beside him.
The man nodded, gesturing towards the door. "We made sure to have the most secure cell prepared for him. And a few extra guards for his room."
Nodding, the general strolled into the interrogation room, the officer standing outside as he closed the door behind him. Inside, a simple metal table was placed in the middle of the room, where a man sat in an equally plain chair. In the barren room, the sitting man stood out like a peacock, red bowler hat covering his eyes and the bright orange hair. Two feet propped on the table, the man barely looked up as the door opened and spilled out Ironwood. "Well if it isn't the big man himself," the criminal boomed.
Ironwood didn't' rise up to the man's small talk. Nor did he take the seat across from him. "Talk," Ironwood demanded. "And maybe you'll receive a more comfortable cell."
Torchwick frowned, an eyebrow raised at the general's offer. "No reduced sentence?" he implored. "I thought that's how these interrogations worked."
Despite himself, Ironwood smirked and said, "At minimum, you might get four hundred years in jail as a combination of assault, first-degree murder-"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Torchwick looked offended at that charge, finally sitting up properly. "I never killed anyone."
"You were linked to at least three deaths- two of them high ranking officials."
The criminal shook his head. "Did I supply them? Maybe- still have no blood on my hands though."
If he was any less composed, Ironwood would have sighed in frustration. "Regardless, reducing your sentence would only help half your sentence. Parole- maybe another quarter. And that leaves you-"
"I can do math," Torchwick interrupted as he pat his pockets in search of… something. "So, what? You gonna stick me in a cell for the rest of my days?"
"Where we put you is decided by how you want to answer our questions." Finally, Ironwood could get to his points. "First- why were you in Mountain Glenn?"
Torchwick shrugged, sitting back as he pulled out a cigar. Where he found that, Ironwood couldn't say- he thought his men searched the crime lord. Obviously, the man cared for his cigars. "Business," Torchwick answered simply.
"What business? With who?"
"Now, I can't disclose my clients," Torchwick tutted. "Privacy and all that."
That was the answer Ironwood expected but didn't want. He looked down at the tablet in his hands, shaking his head while he moved on. "What were you hoping to gain with this attack?"
"Nothing."
Ironwood looked up. "Nothing?" he repeated.
"It was either then or four months." Torchwick struggled to find something else before he sighed, setting the unsmoked cigar down. "And my employer's never going to let me live it down if I have to delay it that long- not to mention the expenses and extra strings I'd have to pull in order to fix the bombs."
"So, this wasn't your original plan."
"Nah- too sloppy. I'm telling you, there's no finesse. No flair in her plans. Well," now, the madman donned a wistful grin as he looked off in the distance, "not the Queen's anyway."
There was more than plot? "What does that mean?" Ironwood demanded. "Do you mean the Grimm?"
"Hey, he may be a Grimm, but Farayan understands people better than anyone on this ship. Possible exception of me, but I got caught here. Maybe he takes the title now. Now that means-"
"What does he have planned?" Ironwood asked again, interrupting the man's little rambling.
Torchwick rolled his eyes at the general. "It means," he started again, "that his plans are a secret to everyone but two people. Like it should be."
"You and Farayan?"
A dark chuckled came out of the criminal. "Absolutely not," Torchwick laughed at the idea. "Farayan and himself. Well, the boy in his brain. He's the reasonable one, though nowhere near as creative as the monster."
Ironwood raised an eyebrow at the man. "So you don't know their plans."
"Farayan's? No."
"The Queen's?"
"Vaguely." Torchwick sighed, staring up at the ceiling.
Ironwood leaned over the table, looking as menacing as possible. Evidently, Torchwick was immune as he didn't even spare the general a glance. "I'll give you one chance to tell me what she is planning."
"In return?"
"I'd imagine a pillow for your cell would be nice."
Torchwick laughed- he expected nothing less from Atlas's infamously ruthless general. "Well, she wants to take over Remnant. But Farayan and I have other ideas."
"Indeed?" Ironwood inquired.
"Yeah. Though, I don't know how he's going to do it."
This was going nowhere. Ironwood sighed as he turned around, rubbing his face with a gloved hand. "Well, one part in his play may be to let you out."
Now it was Ironwood's turn to surprise Torchwick. "Really?" he asked.
"Any thoughts on that?"
After a moment of thought, Torchwick hummed, "Must be his own plan then. I'm expendable to the Queen. Farayan, though?
"It's nice to be a psychopath's friend."
Ironwood considered his words, then he headed for the door. "Thank you," he said over his shoulder.
"What, no more questions?" Torchwick's question fell on deaf ears as the general was already out of the room, two guards with a new set of handcuffs for the criminal to wear. "Ah well," he sighed. Then, a grin settled as his hands were secured behind his back.
"At least I know I'm in safe hands."
AN: Oh, Torchwick's getting out. This, I will see done. Someone has to do it for him. Well, there's the last of the preparations. Besides one last loose end, but the main cast is here. Just need to break the spirits, then things will be done. I'm planning on finishing this story in around 2 months.
Anyways, I don't have much to say this time.
Signing off, Flames of Fire.
