RWBY (c) RoosterTeeth
Rose Above The Clouds
Meetings
Ruby had about an hour to spare before she had to report in for her next assignment. General Ironwood was assigning a contingent of his Paladins to Mantle's defensive line and he'd asked her team to act as escorts. There were reports of subterranean Grimm snaking about the city's lower levels, and it gave the team a chance to help bridge a gap between the sister cities. The Mantle Navy had jurisdiction over the area, and the General said this would go a long way to helping easing the tension between the two states as well.
In that spare time, Ruby decided to visit the hospital and see her mother and took a moment to reflect on how surreal that fact was for her. She still couldn't believe that her mother was alive, even as visits like this became more and more frequent. Whenever Ruby had a spare moment, she'd make her way to the hospital to visit. She'd share more and more of her adventures, complete with crazy sound effects and over-excited babbling. Sadly, the joy of her mother's return to her life was offset by a bitter taste in her mouth.
The truth was, since she slapped him and that first conversation with her mother, Ruby hadn't really spoken to her uncle - her father, Qrow. Ruby had mixed feelings about him and understandably so. One on hand she was angry, and rightfully so, that he'd lied to her for her entire life. On the other, knowing the threat that they faced in Salem, especially now they knew she was invulnerable to any permanent damage or even death, it certainly did seem the safer, logical choice. But 'logic' didn't do anything to help the hurt.
Ruby knew that Yang wasn't taking this particularly well either. She'd thrown herself into her training and her combat style has certainly been more aggressive since they discovered the truth. More than once, Ruby had seen her temper get the better of her during their fights. Not enough to cause Yang to lose a fight, but enough that she was starting to make predictable mistakes.
At some point during their mission today, Ruby would pull Yang aside quietly and talk about it. Admittedly, they'd need much more than one talk to sort through their cornucopia of family drama, but it was a small step.
Part of her wondered if what Harriet had a point about the Ace Ops just being colleagues. Refusing to mix professional relationships with private friendship or even romance. After all, her family seemed to be more and more the poster children for why that line of thinking was certainly preferable. Ruby pursed her lip as she contemplated it. There were plenty of teams who had team members in relationships, but of course there were others who broke up the split second they could, content never to see each other again. Team RWBY itself had danced back and forth on that line in the last year or so.
She shook her head with a smile, taking to heart the words Weiss spoke to her father in their defense at the Mine. They were a family. And Ruby would do everything in her power to make sure nothing would break that bond between them.
"State your name for the record." The Hospital Clerk instructed sternly and Ruby leaned into the microphone pickup on the front desk next to the scanning device for her scroll.
"Ruby Rose…?"
A few seconds passed by with an affirming chime, "You're clear to proceed."
Ruby gave a quick thank you and took her scroll before making her way into the hospital proper. She had to stop herself taking the path to the isolation ward where Qrow had first guided them. Her mother had been moved to a regular patient's room with a more scenic view of the city at Doctor Charron's recommendation. When Ruby turned a corner, she glanced up and noticed -
"Penny!" Ruby all but cheered, jogging up to her friend who had been walking down the same hallway.
"Ruby!" The android spun around, greeting Ruby with a wide excited smile and expression that vanished into curiosity as she cocked her head to the side. "I didn't think I'd see you today. I thought you had a mission to attend to?"
"Yeah, I do. But what are you doing here?" Ruby asked walking in step with Penny. "Aren't you coming with us? You're the 'Protector of Mantle', right? I mean, it kinda just makes you think you should be there to help with all the perimeter watch."
Penny nodded once enthusiastically. "Oh I was going to. But General Ironwood reassigned me to provide escort for a VIP. I'm supposed to take her to his conference room at Atlas Academy. Why are you here?"
"Oh, I'm here to visit my mum." Ruby had never thought to speak that phrase but the response came out so naturally she couldn't help feeling giddy.
"Your mother?" Penny blinked in surprise, "Oh, is your mother named Summer Rose?"
Ruby blinked in surprise. "Yeah? How did-"
"She's the person I'm escorting to General Ironwood." Penny informed her. "The General's preoccupied with coordinating actions across Mantle with Admiral Thorne, so he asked me and Specialist Reed to bring Summer Rose to the Academy."
"Oh... is it okay if I walk with you for a bit then?" Ruby asked tentatively.
"Of course!" Penny cheered. "She is your mother after all. And the General didn't say anyone else couldn't help us along the way."
Ruby chuckled quietly at the joke. Penny's jubilant mood slowly faded into something more quiet and pensive as they walked on.
"Ruby… may I ask you something?" She began.
"Sure. What's on your mind?" Ruby answered,
"What's... what's it like to have a mother?" Penny asked her friend innocently, there was a sadness to her tone that tugged at Ruby's heart. "I know many women who are older than me and take care of me, but not in the same affectionate way my father does. My research indicates they would be called 'sister' figures or just authority figures, but I don't have anyone that I could consider my 'mother'. So, I was wondering what it was like to have one?"
"I…" Ruby went to respond but found her words curiously vanished. She had no clue. She discovered her mother was alive recently, and was that even enough time to form a bond with her? "Its-"
"And why in HELL didn't you get me one?!" Summer Rose's voice cut through their conversation, echoing down the hallway and around the corner.
The teenagers broke into a jog and rounded the corner quickly where Specialist Reed stood by the doorway with her arms folded and lip curled in amusement. The doorway had been blocked by a hard-light dust barrier and inside was Summer Rose arguing with Qrow Branwen.
"Is there something wrong? Do we need to separate them?" Ruby asked, silver eyes flickering between the Specialists and her parents in the room.
Specialist Reed wearing a cheeky grin, made a series of quick gestures to Penny Pollendina who couldn't help the tiny snicker as she translated. "Lover's spat."
Ruby was caught wrong footed. Lover's spat. Her silver eyes flickered downwards. She had to get used to that. "Well ... at least they're not 'fighting' fighting, right?"
"Peace offering?" Ruby had never heard Qrow sound so… scared?
Ruby peaked around the corner, past the hard-light barrier that served as Summer's hospital door. Qrow had offered a hard plastic case to Summer who took it grumpily to examine it contents. Her grumpy gaze moved back to him.
"You may live... for now."
"Pardon me for breathing." Qrow threw his hands up while Summer placed the case on her bed, withdrawing a set of clothing it looked like. "But in all seriousness, Wax and Wane are ready as well. I have them stashed away in my quarters. You'll get them as soon as Ironwood gives us the green light."
"Thank you." Summer said in all sincerity. "It'll be good to get a weapon in my hands again."
"Uh, could I...?" Ruby pointed towards the hard-light barrier and Reed nodded once, pressing a few keys on the wall-mounted pad that shut down the barrier.
The sound of the generator powering down caught the attention of both adults who looked up in surprise to see Ruby and Penny standing there.
"Uh. Hi mum." Ruby waved awkwardly, smiling gently.
"Petal, come on in. We're just... discussing things - maybe a bit too loudly." Summer cast a dark look over her shoulder to Qrow who winced before looking pleadingly at Ruby.
"Why, by all things sacred and holy, did you tell her about Maria?"
Summer spun and snapped at him. "You still haven't gotten me an autograph!"
"That's what all the yelling was about?" Ruby couldn't help the incredulous little laugh that followed her mother's indignant screech.
Summer adopted a tone of absolutely sincerity. "I'm sorry Petal, but we're talking about the Grimm Reaper. And more importantly, one of the best scythe masters ever to live. Its very important business."
"You know, Crescent Rose is a scythe too." Ruby offered with a shrug, "Maybe when we get out of her we can train together?"
"You have a scythe too?" Summer clasped her together and absolutely beamed with joy.
Ruby nodded emphatically. "Yeah, Qrow trained me how to wield one. I think you'll like it. Its a customisable bolt-action high-impact sniper rifle!"
The smile vanished from her face and she cast another dirty look over her shoulder.
"Heretic." Summer grumbled under her breath.
"Vixen." Qrow muttered.
"Uh..." Ruby looked between the two adults, "I don't get it."
"Oh, I'm sorry Ruby, but its always - and I mean always - be a point of argument between your father and I. Which is better; wielding one scythe or two?"
"One." Ruby and Qrow chorused together without hesitation, Summer's nostrils flared as she played up her irritation, even affecting a false twitch in her eye. Enough to make Ruby giggle quietly in her face.
"Very well," Summer straightened her back. "I'm sadly out-numbered in this battlefront, but when I get out of here, I'll teach you both how sorely mistaken you are."
"I missed you too, Shortstack." Qrow rolled his eyes at her.
"Huntress Rose?" Penny finally spoke up from her spot in the hallway. Ruby beckoned her in while Qrow watched, but Summer stared at her in fascination. Specifically her augmented leg attachments. "Huntress Rose, you're staring."
Summer blinked, having lost herself for a moment and smiled apologetically. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to gawk like a fool, but those are extremely fascinating prosthetics you have. I've never seen the like. Then again, fourteen years is a long time for tech to go marching on."
Ruby placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Oh, no. Mum, this is… This is Penny. I told you about her."
"The android girl?" Summer seemed completely taken aback by this, glancing between her daughter and husband both for some sort of conformation. "You could've fooled me. Well then, would you mind if I snuck a peak under the hood later, so to speak? I'm a bit of a weapon nut, and I've always been keen on the latest and greatest technologies."
"When the General agrees to give you the clearance, I could introduce you to my father! He's the one who designed and built me. I'm sure he'd be happy to tell you about my custom modifications." Penny offered happily.
Ruby suggested cheerfully. "Yeah, and Maria's helping him as an administrative assistant. You could meet the Grimm Reaper herself."
"Yes, dear. I'd very much love to. Especially because darling Qrow still hasn't given me her autograph." Summer turned her face towards Qrow with an exaggerated false smile.
"Dear gods, kill me now." He groaned, dropping his face into his hand. Penny and Ruby couldn't help the conspiratorial giggle they shared.
"Huntress Rose." Specialist Reed's projected voice interrupted their revelry. "Please get changed. The General is waiting for us now."
"Penny. Specialist Reed. Huntress Rose." General Ironwood greeted them all in turn when they entered the conference room, standing by the window where he oversaw the southern quadrant of Atlas.
Specialist Reed snapped a crisp salute, Penny gave an enthusiastic salute of her own while Summer inclined her head politely. Summer was dressed in a black skirt and corset, black boots with silver buckles and grey tights. Over the ensemble was a hooded white shrug that extended past her back like a cape, and a crooked cross pendant hung around her neck. Despite her hands being bound in front of her with gravity-dust infused bolas, she looked every bit the Huntress she used to be and not the half-mad patient she was these past months. "General. Thank you for agreeing to meet me. I wasn't sure that Qrow could convince you to let me out of my little cage but I'm glad he managed to talk you into giving me the time of day."
"I'm sure you can understand why we chose to keep you in containment. From what I've been told, you were Salem's prisoner for the duration of your absence." He didn't mistake the flinch in the Huntress' frame when he'd said the Grimm Queen's name. "As you can guess, we have no idea what she could've done to you, in terms of mental or psychologically conditioning."
"I understand that. And as a loyal citizen I have no choice but to obey the edicts set out by my leaders. Even if I fundamentally disagree with their policies." Summer answered,
"Excuse me?" Ironwood raised an eyebrow at this.
"General Palatinate, Colonel Violet and Commodore Thorne spent their careers trying to remove the Kingdom of Atlas from its militarized state. They were on the verge of succeeding too when I'd left this Kingdom." Summer noted, glancing out the window. A deep frown etched on her features. "And you've undone all their hard work."
"You do understand that we're in a time of war, Huntress Rose." Ironwood pressed firmly, "A war requires a wartime footing. I'm sure you're aware of the chaos that's been unleashed since your fourteen years of absence. I'm sorry that the state of our homeland isn't to your liking, but we haven't the luxury of lowering our guard with the enemy at our gatse."
"But a siege mentality?" Summer gestured to the window where a good portion of the fleet is displayed. "Any basic tactician can tell you those kinds of tactics are ultimately self-defeating. And with all of your guns pointed outwards, how are you going to stop an enemy that's already slipped in?"
"You studied military tactics in your youth?" Ironwood pointedly questioned, thinly veiling his irritation at her attempt to school him on defensive strategy.
"I was studying military tactics and treatises since I was old enough to read. Believe it or not, but there was a time in my life where I aspired to be seated in where you are right now." Summer answered truthfully. "I mean no offense. I just... disagree with how the entire world is these days, I suppose."
Ironwood nodded gravely. "I suppose things changed."
Summer nodded to herself, almost remorsefully. "And mistakes were made that... somewhat removed that prospect from my future. Still, I can't really complain. Being a Huntress allows certain freedoms a Specialist doesn't."
"Specialists come with better health plans." Ironwood replied.
Summer laughed. "On that we can agree."
Ironwood made his way over to the long conference table, letting his hand rest on the back of the chair. He swallowed hard and considered his next words carefully. "Believe you me, I won't want anyone to be in my position right now. Times have been challenging for us all."
"A second point we can agree on." Summer nodded somberly.
"Please, be seated. I think we have much to discuss."
"We do." Summer agreed, dragging out a chair and sitting herself down. She spared a glance out the window.
Ironwood assumed his own seat, leaning on the table with his hands folded together. "First of all, I was hoping since you're feeling better that you could provide us with a complete debrief of your time as Salem's captive."
The General noticed her flinch again at the name and closed his eyes for a moment to think. "But first, I want you to tell me if she knows? Does she know that you have the location of the Summer Maiden?"
"Doubtful." Summer answered honestly.
"And why do you say that? She has insidious methods of getting what she wants."
"I left her a false trail. I told her the location of the previous Summer Maiden." She answered honestly.
"Does that mean she already has the Summer Maiden in her control? Have you already given away one of your own charges to the enemy?" Ironwood's eyes narrowed as he spoke, his tone razor sharp. If Summer Rose had betrayed them, well... that didn't bode well for any of them.
"I said the 'previous' Summer Maiden. I said nothing of the current maiden." Summer explained firmly, "The previous Summer Maiden was dying of sickness at the time of my capture. I made a gamble that when I revealed that information, her death would have come and gone."
"A dangerous one." Ironwood noted grimly.
"But a necessary one, I'm sure you agree. And its certain to say the Grimm Queen didn't succeed in her goal. Otherwise she would've had the Relic of Destruction in her hand right now and slaughtering us all like the bloodthirsty psychopath she is." Summer gestured to the window, "Since we are clearly all still alive, its safe to assume that's the case."
"Which raises another question: After all of those years, how could you possibly know the location of the current summer Maiden?" Ironwood demanded, "The Summer Maiden has been missing for fifteen years. Even longer than the runaway Spring Maiden. Where could you possibly have hidden her that Salem wouldn't find?"
Summer met his gaze evenly. "Tell me, General. Have you ever heard the phrase 'the best place to hide something is in plain sight'?"
Author's note:
Happy Birthday to me. :)
I welcome feedback and criticism,
Aurora313
