Sorry I haven't updated in a while! But here's chapter 5!

Chapter 5: The hospital Room

Pyrrha Nikos Lv 30

I may have always felt alone. Perhaps.

I feel like Rodin felt like that too.

She always looked like she felt uncomfortable at people staring at her. She was great, and people recognized it. All lot. I could tell by the way people held her, how closely Rodin could worm her way into your heart.

Ruby adored her. Weiss seemed to be her best friend, Jaune, Blake, Ren, Nora, even Yang.

I took a glance at the mop of dark yellow hair and the now murderous red eyes, sitting hunched over in her hospital chair, looking off into space I wasn't sure was there.

Especially Yang.

I was… really the only one who didn't know Rodin very well.

Yes, it hit deep, seeing a friend, someone so full of life be…

I shook my head, unable to finish the thought.

But I felt so guilty not talking to her. I was afraid she would avoid me, maybe she didn't like me? We never talked. I don't think I'd ever even spoken directly to her. I don't think we've ever made direct eye contact.

Like a lot of our group, I was desperate for a friend. For friends. Unlike the rest of our group, I felt caged in my box. Trapped in this perfect prison, where everyone wanted me to be the best I had to be. To be perfect. What everyone expected me to be. I was too afraid to bring up a conversation with the girl, in fear I'd say the wrong thing.

And now…

The door to the medical room opened, and a doctor came out, tall and tired, bringing out a clipboard. My keen eyes noticed specks of blood along the cuffs of his lab coat.

And tried not to think about whose blood that was.

Everyone in RRWBY and JNPR was in the waiting area, and all of us jolted upright as he addressed us.

"She's in bad condition." He sighed, pushing up his glasses. "There's something-off, about her body that's being examined currently. Until then we're doing our best to keep her from dying. I'm sorry."

"So she's stable?" Yang asked weakly.

"For now."

The words hung in the air. Foreboding. It felt so frightening. I had never even considered the possibility of Rodin being struck down like that. The blood...

I saw Ruby curl in on herself and I winced in sympathy.

I witnessed Rodin getting hurt, as did Ruby. I don't think I could ever forget that. The way her eyes widened, the fear…

What I felt must be three times as worse for the younger girl.

In Ruby's mind Rodin was almost like a hero, everyone knew that.

Every time she had a question she went to Rodin, every fight Ruby's seen Rodin's won. I could imagine seeing someone so idolised, be hurt so bad…

The normally energetic girl was subdued ever since we got to the hospital.

Blake was silently suffering, and Nora was scowling.

Dark, cold anger playing in her eyes.

I think her reaction most terrified me, other than Yang's.

Weiss was distracting herself, trying to keep busy. Jaune and Ren were quietly talking.

I sighed, dread plaguing my chest, constricting, contracting.

I just hope Rodin will be okay.

…………..

Ozpin(?)

I walked into the hospital room, weary, drained.

The last update I had on Rodin's condition was bad, bordering on worse.

She was dying, to put it simply.

The instigators have been found. Cardin Winchester and his friends. They couldn't have known this would happen, but lying and bullying in my school would not be tolerated. I put them on probation.

If her condition got… critical, then I'd permanently suspend them, to the point where they wouldn't be able to ever enroll in another Huntsman school again.

As for Adel… she looked plagued with guilt as it was.

No leaving for missions for the rest of the year, detention for as long as she was a student in my school. Permanent suspension depended on if Ms Solidago's condition worsened, much like the CRDL team.

"Glynda."

"Ozpin."

Glynda was an old friend of mine, one who I cared for dearly. She would, on occasion, clean up my messes.

In her mid 20s and quite beautiful, she made quite the eligible bachelor. Not that I ever thought of it. The thought of pursuing romance with one of my staff, anyone really… didn't seem appealing to me.

I cast a glance at the young girl in the hospital bed, and I sat down in a hospital chair. "How is she Glynda?"

"That's what I called you here for."

Her face was unreadable. Expressionless.

I sighed heavily, pushing up my glasses. "You wouldn't have called me if her condition wasn't worsening." I steeled my heart, preparing myself for the worse.

"Normally." She started. "You'd be right. If I called you here, then she would be dying. But think again Ozpin."

My head snapped back to her. "What?"

She pulled out papers, notes scattered all across multiple pages, lips thinning. "Rodin's condition is improving at a rapid rate. Being shot like she did… even with aura the best possibility was her being in a coma for the rest of her life."

"What are the chances looking like now?"

"Recovery in a few days."

I sat back, stunned.

"How?"

"Earlier the doctors identified the cells in her body behaving very differently to normal cells. It's all here. Hyper aggressive white blood cells, self correcting internal bleeding." She handed me the clipboard and I flipped through the notes.

Advanced cellular and genetic makeup. Denser bones and faster recovery time. It was as if she had some sort of regeneration factor.

I felt the gears in my head turn, and my mind flipped through any old stories or legends about something like this.

The girl was an advanced student at Beacon, stronger and faster than what's to be expected from her small size. Burns massive amounts of energy, eats loads of meat. What else? A family history perhaps? Some secret bloodline?

Ruby and her silver eyes.

And perhaps… Rodin the Fall Maiden.

……………

Velvet Scarlatina 28

I tapped my foot restlessly. The sound of the elevator, the quiet hum, only worsened my nerves. Along with general feeling of guilt.

I knew I had no right to be here. It wasn't-I didn't mean for any of this to happen-

Tears built up in my eyes as I waited in the elevator.

Couldn't forgive Coco, but I also couldn't forgive myself.

The elevator opened up and I walked out and towards the waiting room.

I was told Rodin was held there.

I didn't know what to expect, but I still froze as I saw the two teams in the hallway.

Red eyes found me.

They weren't pleased to see me.

"You."

I flinched. The girl gritted her teeth, clenching her fists as she paced faster up to me. Yang I think. She looked tall and dangerous, ready for murder.

"I just-I needed to

"The hell do you think you are, coming over here?" She snarled. "You have no fucking right being anywhere near her!"

I cringed internally, because it was nothing I didn't tell myself. "I'm sorry-"

"Get the hell away before I fucking hit you." The blonde seethed.

I withered.

The sentence was definitive, and clearly stated her intentions. She'd hit me if I didn't back down right now.

But still… I couldn't… "No."

I gave a sharp gasp as she gripped my collar-

The orange haired one grabbed her arm, scowling calmly. Her eyes regarded me coldly though, even as they glanced back to Yang. "Calm down Yang."

"Nora!" Yang seethed, chest heaving as she struggled in the shorter girl's grasp. There was this-fire inside her eyes. As if she wanted her sole purpose in life to be to beat me within an inch of mine.

"It isn't worth it. I'm angry too. I know. But if you hurt her… you'll regret it. Trust me."

There was a tense few seconds, before Yang abruptly let go of my collar, choosing to glare at the floor.

I felt lost in the whirlwind of my emotions. I knew I shouldn't have come here. I knew I wouldn't be welcomed. I almost wanted the girl to hit me. I didn't deserve to even see her.

And then the door opened, jarring everyone out of their thoughts.

Professor Ozpin!

My ears curled at the thought of him passing judgement on me, but for some reason he hadn't. I was the only guilty party that got away scot free.

And I hated it.

I shook off the thoughts.

He was here to see Rodin. That meant there had been an update on her situation. Her condition.

I felt sick. Nervous, more than before even. Like I was going to throw up.

He pushed up his glasses, regarding us all. Gylnda stood behind him, expressionless.

"There is some news." He started.

The blonde haired boy, Jaune, looked at him in open concern. "I-is she going to be okay?"

"If a normal person were shot like she was she would have died." Ozpin said solemnly, scowling slightly.

I felt that gnawing guilt intensify painfully. I was so afraid.

"Fortunately… quite fortunately," I felt relief. "Rodin will live."

We all looked relieved at that, tension and stress almost visibly lifting. Differences put aside for a few brief moments as I gave Yang a warbly smile and she gave me a crooked smile back, looking drained. Like she had been awake for days.

Weiss still looked mildly concerned. "How long will she have to take to recover? A few weeks? A few months?" Her gaze turned more fearful. "Will she ever be able to become a Huntress?"

A new set of fears played in my head.

"Even with her aura she'd most likely never be able to leave her bed." Before it fully registered he continued. "That is if this was normal circumstances." Professor Ozpin brought a clipboard closer to him, stuffed with notes and paper. "Fortunately it seems Ms Rodin has something quite strange about her."

We all looked at him expectantly. He cleared his throat.

"Ms Solidago had 23 bullets ripped through her body. Close to a dozen or so still lodged into her before the hospital pulled them out. As of right now, just a dozen hours later she only has mild to severe internal bleeding that is being monitored carefully. Rodin Solidago has a healing factor, one that miraculously saved her life. What could have left her in a coma for months, she'll recover in two days."

…………………………………………………………..

Rodin Solidago Lv: 12

HP: (!)3,549/4,500

The sound of the gun being heated up. The bullets wrenching the air.

The pain.

"Awa-" I sucked in air, opening my eyes suddenly and dazed.

What the heck happened-

Hospital. I was in a hospital bed. That was a hospital smell, with a hospital look.

Not to mention I was wearing hospital clothes. Seriously, what the heck?

I jerked, flashes of memory rushing in, and I quickly felt for skin. Skin I knew had been ripped apart, as the phantom feeling still lingered.

"I didn't even know what I did." I muttered quietly to myself. "I didn't even know what I did."

I sat there for awhile.

And then I tried to get up.

I hissed, hot pain spiking in my side. Like the worst cramp imaginable, but hot and unbearable. It drew tears to my eyes.

How the heck was I still alive?

Was this aura? Or maybe… The Game?

I wasn't sure. I felt confused. And the truth of the matter was I didn't really know.

I nodded to myself, eyes glancing over my brown skin.

Flawless brown skin.

I swallowed, choosing not to think about anything happening to my body as of the moment, instead making another go at trying to get out of bed.

It took me three more tries.

I cracked open the door, peeking out into the hallway.

It was dark. The lights were off. But… I recognised the two groups in the hallway. And it brought a smile to my lips.

They were all asleep. Blake's bow was twitching, but I already knew she was a faunus. Ren and Jaune were propped up against each other on the wall, sitting on the floor next to a gently snoring Nora and Pyrrha who were sleeping in chairs.

My team were on the left wall, sleeping-in what looked to be very uncomfortable positions.

I mean, hot positions. But like, sleep on the wrong side of bed, wake up with a crick in your neck kind of bad positions.

I took a few steadying breaths, and nudged Ruby with my foot.

She jolted, gasping.

The black hair, soft petite girl, stirred. She looked downright gorgeous in my slightly limited vision. Angelic almost.

Silver caught my dark brown eyes.

"... Rodin?" Ruby croaked.

"Hey Ruby." I whispered, a happy grin that you could hear in my voice. "Welcome to the land of the living."

She continued to stir, now looking exhausted. "Is… this a dream?"

"No dream. I'm sorry I took so long."

She suddenly snagged my hand.

"Ruby?"

The girl was seemingly awake now, although I couldn't see her face in the dark. She gripped my hand tighter. Getting up quietly, before tugging me forward.

"Where are we going?"

We stopped at a corner a good distance away from the group. I tried to make out her expression but I couldn't.

"Ruby?" My voice wavered a bit.

She shoved me.

-2 damage!

I hissed, almost biting back a scream. Whatever internal injuries I had flared up hard.

"Idiot!" She hissed quietly. "Stupid-"

"Ruby!"

"You're still hurt! Why are you so stupid?!"

I openly gaped at her. "You're the one who pushed me!"

She glared sharply at me, unshed tears dancing her eyes. "You'll get better. That's the thought right? It's okay to get out of bed if I get better?"

I took a long look at her face, deciding not to say anything.

"You don't get to just do that. I can't-" Her voice cracked, and I took a hesitant step forward.

"Ruby-"

"You don't get to play tough!" She jabbed a finger at me. "I know okay?! I know you're not-cool. You're-dorky, and flustered, and beautiful. You're so amazing. Everybody knows that. But you're here for me." She jabbed her chest, punctuating each word.

"That's why I look up to you. Because, for the first time in a very long time… I have someone who really cares about me."

She continued, tears finally falling.

"I can't lose someone like that again." Her voice cracked. "I just can't."

I stepped up, wrapping her in a tight hug despite the pain.

We stayed like that for a while.

"I'm sorry Ruby."

"No I'm sorry. She muttered, still trapped in my arms. "I shouldn't have pushed you. Are you okay?"

I almost said yes.

"No." I griped. "That hurt like, a lot."

She groaned, snuggling deeper into our hug.

"Sorry. I'm such a mess."

"No I'm here for you. As long as you want." I gripped her harder, standing in the dark hallway. "We're partners."

"Partners." She repeated.

Partners.

A bit rough, but that's chapter 5! Let me know where you want the story to go, thank you for all the positive feedback. Bye!