Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY. Would Zwei die if I did?

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Scandalous Support 3

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Jaune's Student Council reaches the faunus quarter early in the morning. The faunus quarter is a section the city filled with slums and buildings pressed against the walls, separated from the rest of the city by a dirty river-stream and draw bridge. Once there, the group splits up to cover more ground. Jaune was right about how the split-up would go- Ren and Nora leave as one tag-team partner, Yang goes with Pyrrha with words about Pyrrha sticking out like a sore thumb and needing a disguise, and Ruby goes on her own with her hood up. They all promise to be as discrete as possible- lest word of their effort spread back to Mordred- and to not cause trouble. Right now, an additional scandal from his friends is the last thing Jaune needs.

Ruby's visit to the faunus quarter is a quest that quickly seems futile. Something definitely seems off, even though no one is hostile. It's not just that people keep giving her odd looks when she asks after Malik. Maybe it's how she does it- or the fact she does so simply and directly- but eventually denials give way to suspicion. Humans with weapons entering the faunus quarter asking questions like that… that's the sort of thing that could give someone the wrong idea, you know?

Ruby gets nowhere, and soon spots obvious indicators that faunus are misleading her- such as contradictory explanations about what sort of faunus Malik is, what he looks like, and even whether he's in town or not. Ruby also feels the aura pinpricks that she's being watched and followed. She can't tell who's following her in the crowd, but soon learns via a lunch-time meet-up with the rest of the group that they're having similar issues. Everyone is avoiding answering, and no one is being helpful.

Not until one seemingly random faunus pulls her off the street and into an alley.

Ruby thinks she's under attack first, until she realizes the faunus is familiar- it's Hayate, the combat-faunus butler from the night of the Queen's assassination. She recognizes Hayate, and Hayate has recognized her, and Hayate is the first faunus to be somewhat straight with her all day.

Hayate is clearly torn- saying more than he should, afraid for his place here if he does, but feeling he owes Ruby (or rather, by extension, Jaune) for the night of the White Fang attack. Hayate lost his job with the nobility, but has been making ends meet here thanks to Jaune's endorsement on live television. Despite that, his job here could be at risk if he says too much. Hayate talks about Malik in rushed and cryptic terms: one does not look for Malik, Malik looks for you. If you have to seek him, he wasn't looking for you. He has eyes everywhere, a key to any door, and you never know when or where he'll show up. Malik is someone who finds you in your time of need, and every faunus in the quarter who knows him well enough to find him would die for him instead.

Hayate's explanation is cut short when the bouncers of the bar they're at find them. The bouncers are very suspicious of Ruby by this point- word having gotten around of the group of humans looking for Malik- and with suspicion comes pointed questions.

Ruby keeps her purpose a secret while trying to protect Hayate as friend. (Really just a stranger, barely an acquaintance, Hayate claims as they explain, even as Ruby contrasts that by dropping Jaune's line about strangers being friends.) Ruby avoids confrontation rather than risk a fight when the bouncers try to force the issue, even if it means losing her first real lead to Malid all day. Rather than stick around and risk getting Hayate in trouble, Ruby evades a fight- despite the trash-talking bruisers calling her not just a little girl but also a coward.

Any other time, or maybe any other person, might have risen. But with Jaune's reputation in mind, RUby refuses to be riled. Any fighting under these conditions could ruin Jaune's reputation with the faunus and bringing mores scandal and shame to him via his friends. Rather than do that, Ruby peacefully leaves the establishment...

...but still feels the pressure of being watched as she goes.

Ruby's afternoon is disappointing, and promises to end on a similar note as the day draws to a close. No one has threatened them, but word of their search has spread throughout the faunus quarter. Everyone's heard of them- been warned of them- and the chances of finding anyone willing to talk are nil. Still, she doesn't give up, no matter how futile this quest becomes. Jaune needs the help of Malik, and that's enough for Ruby to keep searching.

The evening takes a turn for the dangerous when Ruby hears sounds of panic as dusk falls. Young faunus are running across the bridge into the faunus quarter in fear, and behind them is… not a mob, but a large number of drunken humans, cursing and accusing the faunus of harboring thieves and terrorists. Faunus are gathering on their side of the river-bridge as well, ready to defend themselves. The faunus are prepared to eject the humans from the faunus quarter by force if necessary, but there's a hint of fear on their part as well, as parents try to shoo their children or infirm indoors or back home. If the faunus fight back, it could cause an incident and spark reprisals. Normally they'd just raise the drawbridge, but…

There are still faunus running to them, desperate for the relative safety of the faunus quarter. Raise it, and those left behind will suffer. Leave it down…

While faunus gather nervously and grip impromptu weapons, Ruby walks into the center of the bridge without fear.

Ruby lets the faunus run pass her, but warns the drunken humans to stop. They don't want to- accusing the faunus children of being thieves and the faunus quarter of being a haven to the White Fang- but when challenged they lack any proof. That's what she thought. Ruby takes a stand, warning the drunken humans from approaching any further, and without actually drawing her weapon she asks them to leave peacefully instead.

They don't.

Negotiations break down over a little girl telling them what to do- especially when they cite Lord Mordred's pronouncements of needing to secure the city- and the drunken civilians charge across the bridge. Ruby could beat them with ease if she withdrew her Crescent Rose... but all that would mean is a flurry of newspapers the next day, with Mordred condemning Jaune's allies for drawing weapons on citizens of Vale (and Mordred's future supporters).

Instead, Ruby takes a less violent- though still active- path. Ruby uses her speed and agility to dodge, disrupt, and even gently push or trip the humans off the bridge into the (filty) mini-river below, where they struggle back to the human side. In a series of failed charges, Ruby defeats and all but defenstrates the human mob into the humbling drink... but when the last human wisens up to retreat in fear, giving up, Ruby lets him go free.

But when the last of them surrenders, Ruby stops- and soon turns around to prevent the faunus from crossing, or at least those who were thinking of crossing to settle the score in their favor. A fight against the scattered drunken souls wouldn't be fair at all, and is entirely unnecessary. It's questionable if Ruby will convince them to change their minds, or if she's going to have to physically stop them as well... but a voice from the crowd speaks up in her favor, and points out that she could stop the faunus as easily as she stopped the humans. Some of the crowd grumbles, but more relax in relief, and everyone disperses when the faunus in the crowd directs them to go home. Even the most recalcitrant of the bunch, the ones who wanted to settle things on their terms, are called out by by name and reminded of familial or other obligations.

The situation settles peacefully as the faunus disperse, with Ruby having successfully held the bridge against all comers.

One faunus doesn' leavet, and the one who spoke becomes obvious as she continues to watch Ruby. It's an old woman- a crone of a mouse-faunus, really, wizened and old and small with age. She watches Ruby with familiar carefulness. The old crone bids Ruby to approach, and Ruby even has to stoop down so that she can get a good look at her face. The mousy woman remarks on Ruby's silver eyes, but more importantly calls her out as one of the people looking for Malik. Upon Ruby admitting that she is, she asks why- why is a little human girl looking for an old faunus as he?

Ruby says it's because she needs help, but the old mouse-woman doesn't believe her. People like her- and again he references her silver eyes- don't need help from faunus like them. Humans only come to the faunus quarter when they want something for themselves they can't get elsewhere, and then they take it and leave not caring who else is hurt along the way. Ruby denies it- and in a moment of breaking her reserve, she admits that the help isn't for herself. It's for a friend who just wants to talk to Malik.

Something in the way she says it- that Jaune just wants to talk to Malik- makes the old mouse pause.

Her boy, no doubt. Ruby considers denying it, but instead softly says he isn't hers. The man sighs, and tells her she's hardly the first maiden to brave the faunus quarter and look for Malik on behalf of her prince. Ruby's eyes widen, but the old crone dismisses her unnamed rival for trying to force a meeting by, well, force. Unlike Ruby, who…

The Old Crone asks Ruby why she fought the way she did on the bridge. Did she think she'd gain favor, win their trust, with a simple show of violence? Ruby denies it- it hadn't even crossed her mind at the time- and simply states it was the right thing to do. Not just to defend, but prevent a larger fight. The old mouse believes her this time, because someone trying to curry favor wouldn't have been willing to stop the faunus as well. They would have let the faunus win a petty dispute rather than risk the animosity of stopping them. Ruby didn't think of that, and can only admit she's glad not fighting worked out. Jaune would have understood, but she doesn't want to cause him any trouble.

That makes the Old Crone laugh- a girl who doesn't fight for the man she favors, because she loves him? The word play makes him laugh. The Old Crone rewards Ruby for her actions and character by offering to arrange… not a meeting, so much as an audience. Ruby is told to return to the place she met Hayate tomorrow, and is invited to bring Jaune… but no one else. If she does, and Jaune is as interesting as her, they might- might- meet Malik.

But if he isn't, or if she tries to cheat and bring in more allies, they will never meet Malik, and their chance for getting the faunus community to support Jaune will be lost forever. The mousy woman explicitly calls them out on exactly what they're hoping to achieve, and gives a final piece of advice: be sure Jaune comes armed and armored.

Before Ruby can demand to know why, Yang/Pyrrha/Ren/Nora arrive. In the time it takes Ruby to see them and turn back, the Old Mouser has disappeared. They're relieved to see her alright- having heard rumor of a fight- and Ruby reassures them as they depart and return to Belle's mansion to reform the Student Council.

Ultimately, Ruby's lead is the only lead on Malik they find. Everyone else was stonewalled the entire day. Going over it with the Student Council and Belle, Jaune agrees to take up the offer and go to the Faunus Quarter with Ruby. They'll go alone too- despite the ominous warnings to come armed- as the stakes are too high to cheat. Not everyone is comfortable, Pyrrha in particular, but everyone accepts Ruby's promise to ensure nothing happens to Jaune.

Besides, he can handle himself. Jaune fingers his arms and armor- embellished and improved upon by Ruby and Weiss and even Belle long ago- and reminds them all that he can take care of himself. He hasn't been training all this time just to look pretty.

Maybe not, though Pyrrha and Ruby are both a little bit embarrassed as they look away awkwardly. Even so, Ruby will still ensure his safety.

And she has just the thing to help.

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Scandalous Support 3

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Author Note:

A quick double-update because the two chapters didn't quite fit together, but are admittedly shorter than the recent norm (and much shorter from the next update). This was definitely a 'day in the life of Ruby' sort of story.