Disclaimer: RWBY belong to Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth. GrimGrave owns nothing.

Wither

Route 1

Chapter 2 – Change

Ruby arched into the wall with a shuddering moan, the bass of the loud club music vibrating through it. Her hair was slapdash and her skin was sweaty from the enclosed bathroom stall. Specifically, she was sweaty from the dirty sex she was having with a lilac-haired woman she had singled out tonight in the equally dirty bathroom stall.

She curved her middle and index fingers inside the girl and she reciprocated by biting into Ruby's shoulder. Just as she was inside this girl – Nebula, was that her name? – the girl sheathed a third finger inside the sniper up to the second knuckle. Pressed up against each other, half-naked and as horny as they were intoxicated, the two rutted and moaned and sloppily made out without a care in the world.

"Fuck, you're so hot," the girl uttered. "I'm going to cum…"

"Yeah, me too," Ruby managed between moans. The pleasure was fleeting, but she needed this. It was like a drug, much like the booze and it helped her forget.

x.x.x

Sated and forced out due to complaints from patrons who actually needed to piss, Ruby and the other girl stepped out into the loud music and the abundance of people.

"Oooh, there's my friends," the girl said. Probably. The music was drowning out everything. "I'm jusht gonna say hi to them…"

And so she wandered off and disappeared, with a body marked with hickeys to remember the night.

Ruby groaned and fished up her new Scroll. The time was 03:45. "…I should get back."

Satisfied for the night, she headed out from the underground club.


Autumn had arrived earlier this year; the weather had been dark and rainy and the overall atmosphere felt colourless and murky. The winds were getting chiller just as the leaves were changing colour.

Ruby entered through the front door unceremoniously, haphazardly closing it behind her as she staggered forward. Her vision swam and her head was spinning faster than a charging Beowulf. With limited success she found her way to the sofa in the living-room and fell into it.

Just as she was getting comfortable and her head didn't feel like it was about to explode, a certain someone cleared her throat and prompted the younger Huntress to look up.

Raven was scowling. "Out drinking again?"

Ruby groaned. "Yes…"

"So help me, if you turn out like Qrow…" She shook her head. "Get some water and then sleep it off. I don't want to hear your drunken lamentations again."

"Mnngh…Okay…" Ruby responded. With much effort she eventually got back up and did as told. Hopefully the alcohol would help her sleep through the night as usual.

x.x.x

The autumn morning was as grey and rainy as it always was. The frequent sound of raindrops against the window roused Ruby from her sleep; her head felt lighter and she wasn't nauseous.

"Good…" she thought out loud and sat up on the sofa. Her clothes were dishevelled and it only occurred to the sniper now that she hadn't changed clothes; her hood, red and tattered, corset, pale blouse, black fingerless gloves, dark-red skirt, black four-strapped combat boots, black leather belt, rose-patterned stockings, tights, and dark-red biker-shorts were still on. Hardly sleep-wear, but there you go.

Before she even bothered to get changed a powerful aroma caught her attention. It smelled good – mouth-watering good even!

Stepping into the kitchen, Ruby eyed the older Huntress casually creating culinary magic. Raven was a humble, skilled cook who would definitely put famous five-star restaurants to shame. It was ridiculous how she didn't think highly of it herself when it was the best food Ruby had ever eaten and she had tasted food prepped by the Schnee family's best cooks!

"It smells great," she commented and earned a scoff in response. "…I didn't make a mess last night, did I?"

"Except the muddy footprints, thankfully no," said Raven. "However, I'd appreciate if you didn't head back into town every other night to fuck some pretty girl and drink until you pass out. I've put up with it for two years, but I'll be damned if I have to do it for a soon-to-be third. Honestly, I don't know why I even put up with you."

Ruby hung her head in shame and ran a hand through her hair – her neck-long hair was spiky and wild towards the back of her head; a result from wanting a change – and sighed. As time had went on, she had changed – change is a part of Life after all – and after the ordeal with Weiss she had had trouble trusting someone romantically. Instead she had sought out pleasure from easy girls in underground bars and clubs to fill the void. While she was nowhere near drinking as much as her uncle, she had taken a liking to the demon drink as it helped suppress memories of the past.

She offered a measly "Sorry…"

"I'd be rich if I had a lien for every time you apologized," Raven remarked. She began plating the table properly, something she had started doing now that she had a roommate instead of a hostage; another change that neither had seen coming, but with Ruby's insistence that she didn't want to go back home in fear of Weiss, Raven had allowed her to stay…oddly enough. There had to be more to it, Ruby suspected, but naturally there had been a set of conditions.

"Well, whatever. Eat up." Sausages, turkey-bacon, potatoes, baked beans, tomatoes, bread, and fried eggs were served on a platter. "This'll keep you going through the day. We have a job to take care of. It's a small bounty, but it's something."

Ruby was a Huntress, but also helped Raven as a Bounty Hunter.

"Right."

"And be a bit careful this time or else you might lose your other eye. If that happens you'll be nothing but a burden."

She winced at her words. Ruby felt her right eye and touched the metallic piece eyepatch instead. It was big – covered nearly half her face – and was wrapped around her head with hardened leather. It was emblazoned with her personal emblem as a more uplifting touch. The eyepatch would serve as a permanent reminder that you could never be too careful, but the word `burden´ had the redhead clutching her stomach.

Raven sighed. "I didn't mean to bring up unwelcome memories. I know it wasn't an easy decision, but it was yours alone to make. You did what you felt you had to."

Ruby nodded. She knew that. Raven was absolutely right.

It had felt like a nightmare to go through with the abortion. Even now, nearly three years later, it haunted her. If things had been different, there would have been a little tyke in her life together with Weiss. They would have lived together in Patch with her father and Yang with Weiss handling Huntress jobs while Ruby took care of the little one.

"Ruby?"

"I'm okay." She wiped her eye and cleared her throat. "I'm okay. Really. So, where is our bounty hiding this time?"

"South-west of Vale, near the border to Vacuo. They're simple bandits, but apparently they've managed to cause enough trouble to warrant a bounty."

"Okay! So when will we be leaving?"

"As soon as we've eaten up," Raven replied. "And I don't need to remind you about-"

"I'll stay back and support you from afar to take down potential stragglers," Ruby finished. She flashed the older woman a smile. "I remember."

Raven barely smiled. "Hmph. Good. Make sure you actually do it this time as well. You have enough scars as it is."

Ruby nodded and glanced down at her arms…

/ It hadn't been long after she had settled in with Raven when the anger and grief came crawling back to haunt her. With the pain of betrayal came self-loathing and Ruby questioned whether she had been good enough – if she was good enough, for herself or to anyone. Did she have any value? Not to Weiss apparently. She hadn't been good enough for the fencer or else she wouldn't have sought out Blake.

It had been at twilight when she stared out the window with tears staining her face. Her Aura flickered and she cried out as pain finally bloomed without protection.

"Ruby?" The sniper had hastily covered up her arms just in time as the older woman stepped inside the room. "What were you doing just now? You're crying."

"…Just remembering," she told her.

"Let me see your arm."

"Why…Why is that-"

"Show me!"

Frightened, Ruby meekly did as she was told and pulled up her sleeve as Raven kneeled down next to her; a beautiful, pale arm, marred with crimson lines from the wrist down. Old and new ones stained the beautiful creamy-pale skin.

"Honestly, what is wrong with you?" The older woman's words stung like the razor had. "Self-loathing and self-harm isn't going to help. That's not how you move forward." Raven shook her head and sighed. "I'll get something to wrap your arm in, then rest up so your Aura can heal it."

She ceased mid-step at the doorway and glanced over her shoulder. "…If there's anyone who deserves the pain, it's this Schnee girl. If you're anything like Sum- …" She paused. "…Like your mother, then the loss is on her, not you. The Schnee girl doesn't know what she had…or what she lost."

As she left the room, Ruby could only stare blankly at the doorway as her heart skipped a single beat./

"…Yeah," Ruby replied. "I suppose you're right."

Raven scoffed. "I am right, you stupid girl."

"I know, I know. Poor choice of words," Ruby admitted. "…Say, Raven?"

"Mm?"

"Why did you decide to keep me around? You've never given me a straight answer."

The older woman arched a single brow, clearly miffed. "So why do you expect one now?" She resumed eating and when she finally noticed Ruby was still expecting something she rolled her eyes. "Maybe I don't have any proper reasons. Maybe I decided you could be useful in the long run."

"That's not-"

"-What you wanted to hear, but that's as good an explanation you're going to get. Now eat up before the food gets cold," Raven interrupted. "Hmph. Honestly."

Ruby pouted at her, but didn't press the subject any further. Perhaps she was overthinking things and there truly was no real reason for Raven letting her stay. She was thankful either way and had vowed to make it up to the woman whom she viewed as her saviour in any way possible.

And as she was locked in thought, Raven eyed her from across the table, her look unreadable.

`Summer…´


/ "It's been about a month. Certain people would be overjoyed to have you back for any price I deem sufficient," Raven stated. She examined her captive closely. "I take it you still don't want to return home?"

"I don't want to see her…either of them…ever again." Ruby quickly wiped her eyes. "I miss dad and Yang…but I don't want to give those two a chance to see me. I don't know what I will do if I meet them again. I don't trust myself."

The older woman crossed her arms firmly. "So you're willing to leave Tai, Yang, and your friends behind just so you can avoid meeting the Schnee girl and her mistress?"

"…am I horrible?"

"That depends on who you're asking. Personally, I don't think so. However, I find it peculiar and strange, knowing who your mother was." The older woman looked away, thinking. "We'll see how you feel one month from now."

x.x.x

And a month passed. Ruby wouldn't budge. Then another month flew by and the sniper remained defiant that she could not go back; screaming it in fact. It was clear that Weiss's betrayal had deeply affected the girl more than either of them could fathom. After a fourth month, Raven gave her an ultimatum; leave and be free or stay with her.

What surprised her was not the answer, but rather how quickly Summer's daughter replied with, "I'll stay with you, if you'll have me."

Unable to fully comprehend what was going on in Ruby's head, the older Huntress accepted nonetheless for reasons she had yet to share with the girl.

And perhaps she never would./


The autumn rain was worse that evening. It was raining cats and dogs by the time the two returned to Raven's abode; a surprisingly homely building with influence of Mistral in the middle of nowhere.

Rainwater dripped from their soaked clothes onto the floor as they hurried inside. "Ruby, do us a favour and get the bath ready."

"Got it!"

"And Ruby." Ruby turned around towards Raven. The older woman eyed her with a steely gaze before she looked away before she spoke up. "…You did well out there today. Good work. You can head into the bath first; I'll get the food prepped."

She beamed at her. "Thanks!" she exclaimed as she headed to the bathroom. In addition, for warmer weather Raven had an outdoor soaking tub, but this wasn't the time for that.

Once the bath was ready and clothes were drying off, she soaked herself completely in the warm water. It soothed her joints and calmed her nerves as her mind quickly wandered.

This place…was home. It was Raven's home; it was now Ruby's home too, for better or worse, but what about back in Patch village? How was her dad doing? And Yang; she of all people would be worried and scared to death. And uncle Qrow was likely out looking as well. Were they all still out looking for her to this day or had they given up hope? Likely the latter; it had been a long time without any trace to go on.

And despite herself, Ruby even wondered what Weiss was doing right now – what was going through her mind right now?

Did she even miss her was the heiress glad she was gone? Did she consider herself free to fuck Blake as she pleased, pretending that the Faunus was merely comforting her in her time of grief? Did Yang know of Weiss betrayal? Did all of them know and how had they reacted?

Their words were still clear in her mind; It's Not What It Looks Like. We Didn't Mean To Hurt You. Ruby I Can Explain.

She shielded her eyes. Her lower lip was trembling. Years later and pain had barely lessened. She missed her family, but the thought of seeing either Weiss or Blake again was equal parts frightening and infuriating.

She got up from the tub lest she annoy Raven. Dried off and with spare clothes on – a simple, over-sized t-shirt and a pair of biker-shorts – Ruby turned to leave when she caught her reflection.

She stared at her reflection and touched her marred eye; what had once been a silver pool that reflected light was now pupil-less and white as snow with an unsightly scar across it. The skin around it was damaged and sickly pale in comparison the rest of her and the eyelid had seen better days.

Wincing, she strapped on the eye-patch and stepped out into the chiller air of the household and bumped into the brunette.

"Watch it. I was just about tell you to get out; the food is almost ready, but I need to bathe too."

"Sorry," Ruby replied. She eyed the other woman; Raven was dressed in a simple black kimono, but for men, and hakama pants, made in Mistral. She wore no undershirt over to cover up her cleavage –

"What are you smiling about?"

Was she smiling? She hadn't noticed.

Ruby giggled and grinned playfully. "Nothing. I'll set the table in the meantime."

"Right. Thanks," Raven replied as the younger girl darted by her. She ceased mid-step and peeked over her shoulder at Ruby before she stepped inside the room.