The blistering sun of the canyon was bearing down hard on Ruby, keeping sight through the scope of her sniper rifle. When she signed up for the Red Army she didn't realize her primary function would be as a spy, but it had worked out to her favor thus far.

"Private Rose reporting back to Red Base, no transports sighted. Blue Team's new Freelancer still has yet to arrive, will continue to keep watch," Ruby radioed in.

"Roger, Private Rose, Red Base out," Jaune, a fellow Red, reported back.

Ruby sighed. "This might actually be fun if the Blues did something other than stand around and talk all day."

"Salutations!"
Ruby turned to face the voice that had come from behind her with a shriek. "Gah! Geez, you scared me half to death!"

"My apologies." The voice belonged to an unfamiliar soldier. Their armor was lightish-green with orange highlights. "I am Agent Pennsylvania. But I also go by Penny."

"Oh. Oh!" Ruby replied. "You're the new Freelancer Blue Team called in."

"Correct. I am here to assist," Pennsylvania, or Penny explained.

"Well..." Ruby drolled, giving her standard-issue red armor a once-over. "This is slightly awkward."

"I suppose so," Penny noted. "However, I was hoping you could direct me to Blue Base. I fear I got turned around somewhere."

"Oh, yeah, I can show you," Ruby offered without thinking. But then, an idea struck. "Any chance though that I could direct you to Red Base instead?"

"While the location of Red Base would be useful information, I am currently contracted to the Blue Army for the moment," Penny responded.

"Sorry."

"Worth a shot. Guess we'll keep banking on Pyrrha, then," the sniper muttered.

"Pyrrha? Oh, yes, Agent Montana!" Penny recalled. "She was a very high-ranked officer. I've always hoped to face her in even combat."

"Well, guess you'll get your shot," Ruby joked.

"Sen-sational!" Penny cheered.

Ruby was a bit confused by this. "Aren't you a little worried about fighting your friend, though?"

Penny grew a bit reticent at that. "Freelancers are discouraged from developing friendships. Presumably for this exact reason. The Director has particularly been against the idea of me socializing."

"Well that's dumb," Ruby spat. "Everyone should have friends. I think I'm friends with everyone on Red Team."

"Do you think Blue Team will be my friends?" Penny asked.

"Eh..." Ruby considered this. "Doctor Belladonna said they weren't all friendly."

Penny continued her line of inquiry. "Is she your friend?"

"She's more my sister, Yang's friend. Actually, they're probably more-than-friends," Ruby joked.

Penny was even more puzzled. She had never heard of that term. "Is that different?"

Ruby became rather embarrassed. "Forget it, my point is that we can be friends if you want."

"Really?" This confused Penny. "But... we're enemies, right?"

"No," Ruby argued. "The Reds and Blues are enemies. You aren't Red or Blue, so it's okay."

"Great!" Penny replied. "I promise to only shoot to wound."

"Right back at you!" Ruby said, rolling with it. "C'mon, I'll get you to Blue Base."

The trip over to Blue Base was mostly uneventful. Until they ran into a light-blue soldier out on patrol.

"What are you doing with our Freelancer?!" the opposing soldier, Weiss, asked.

"Just showing her the way to your base," Ruby answered, "she got lost. You good, Penny?"

"Yes, thank you," Penny replied, walking toward Weiss. "Salutations, new teammate!"

"Okay..." Weiss replied, slightly suspicious. She lifted her gun. "Head back to base, Red, and this won't be an issue."

"Fine by me," Ruby agreed. Before she walked off, she called out to Penny, "Take care, friend!"

"You too, Friend Ruby!"

Weiss scoffed. "You can't be friends with a Red!"

"Oh..." Penny pondered this. "Take care, more-than-friend Ruby!"

"What?!" Weiss asked, befuddled.

"Whoa!" Ruby exclaimed. "Um... I don't think that's what she meant, Penny."

"Do you not want to be more-than-friends?" Penny wondered, more confused than anything.

"Well, uh, I mean, I'm not saying no..." Ruby stuttered out.

"Sen-sational!"

Weiss let out a long-suffering sigh, and addressed the Freelancer, "Just... follow me."

As Penny and Weiss walked off. Ruby heard from her radio.

"Hey, sis!" her sister, Yang, called, "You went radio-silent for a bit, there. Something up?"

"Sorta," Ruby reported. "Blue got their Freelancer. And I think I'm dating her now?"

"Good for you," Yang cheered.

A/N: If you're at all interested, check out my Bumbleby Week fic from 2019's AU Chapter for a little more from this AU.