"Here you go," Ruby handed the cabbie what she hoped was an acceptable amount of the liens for not only the ride but tip as well, as he unloaded her last bag from his car. By his smile, she thought that she got it right. Or he is too professional to let what he really thought show on his face. Ruby would have bet on the second option.
The money she had came from a special account that had been set up by Headmistress Albright for Ruby to have a few extra liens for initial expenses not cover by 'Fallen Hunter' fund. Most of the kids back at Heart would think it was a lot of money, but Ruby knew it wouldn't last long. After all, now that she was considered an adult, legally, she had many new expenses that she never had before.
The 'Fallen Hunter' funds were covering tuition, books, uniforms, room, as well as the three main meals she will be eating on campus. Other items, such as toiletries, tights (Ruby will be damn if was going to be force to wear a skirt without tights), extra body socks, ammo and any other personal items she might need; all of those expenses was now coming out of her own pocket. And even with the small trust fund and the money she was collecting on the sale of her patens, those expenses were going to eat her alive if she wasn't careful.
Especially the ammo, she goes through a lot of Dust practicing her marksmanship as well as for her explosive devices since some of her bombs required a higher grade Dust then her ammo. Heart Academy had paid for all her ammo before as well as her Dust. And Ruby had learned at an early age how to make re-loads, where one took empty casings, added in the correct amount of grains as well as the lead projectile to recycle the casings, that was really only good enough for target practices. Quality control, even for her, was not on par with factory fresh ammo, and the last thing you want while staring down a Grimm is to have a misfire.
For field work, she wanted factory fresh ammo and lots of it. Ruby choose .357 not only for its stopping power but for the ease of finding ammo. Sure, some of the cool kids with sickening, rich parents had really cool, non-standard ammo that did some wicked stuff but why mess with the classics. The whole point was to kill whatever you were shooting at as quickly as possible so you can move on to the next corpse waiting in line. And Ruby was convince if she keeps telling herself that line, that she didn't need any of that cool ammo, eventually she will believe it.
Maybe.
Ruby looked around the crowded cul-de-sac, filled with kids and their parents, some sounding joyful and proud, most screeching and crying so much Ruby want to go slap them to get them to shut up. And slap their offspring who was blubbering just as badly.
For God sakes, they're just going to Beacon; not to the other side of the freaking planet. Ruby though as she looked around for a cart to haul her two sea bags up to the main hall.
Of course, she couldn't find one not being used. Some of the students looked as if they pack their entire household by the number of bags they had. So with a grunt, she threw her red/black checker backpack on her back and grabbed the two other bags with her hands and started trudging up the main promenade.
"Good thing I don't have all that much to carry, she though.
It had taken her a couple days to root through all her junk that she has collected over the years. Most of it; the movie posters, Guns and Weapons magazines, her drawings, sketches and other stuff got tossed. She kept a couple books, those that really entertained her or was hard to find, and donated the rest to the library. Her tool box had been shipped ahead, it was too big for her to carry or fit in a cab. They had assured her that she could have a small space set aside for her in the motor pool for her to maintain her bike and practice her bomb making skills. Which was good, since there was nothing she loved more on a raining day but build and upgrade her weapons.
"Look baby, I know what you heard but you haft to believe me … you know you are the only girl for me."
Ruby look over to her right, to see the ass hat from last week, who dare to call her a sewer trash, was on his scroll talking to some girl, whom, by the ease that Ruby could hear her, was highly agitated at him. She paused for a moment to listen in as the girl on the scroll accused him, his name was apparently Randy, of cheating on her … again.
And recently.
"Baby, those other girls never meant anything to me; you know you are the only one for me. Besides, I promise you, I haven't even looked at another girl since that last one. Trust me baby, I learned my lesson last year. I love you and only you."
Ruby let a small, well, some might call it an evil smile form on her lips as she walked a bit further down the walkway before dumping her sea bags off to the side. She didn't know what great deed she has done lately to deserve this opportunity but whatever it had been must have been a whopper. And if it wasn't a reward for her being good; well then, who was she to deny karma a bit of entertainment.
She waited till he had his back to her, before she ran up to him and jumping on his back. With her arms wrapped around his neck and her legs around his waist, and in full view of the scroll's camera, she began pelting him with quick kisses, all over his face. Avoiding the lips, of course, there are just some places she refuse to touch, even for revenge. Plus, who knew what kind of shots she would have to get later if those lips touch hers.
"Randy? Who the hell is that!"
"I don't know … I've never seen … get off me, you freaking wack … RUBY! What the …"
"Ruby? Who is Ruby? I though you didn't know who was on your back?"
"Oh Randy, my dandy piece of candy, I found the perfect spot to do it and I need you, again, right …" Ruby stop, giving the world a faked looking confused expression as she stared at the blond on the screen. "Why are you talking her!"
"I said, who the hell is Ruby! Answer me, Randall!"
"No one …"
"Randy how could you say that! No one? You jerk! You didn't say I was no one last night or for the past few weeks!" Ruby screeched as she hung on tight, not allowing him to get her off his back. "And you said I was the best you ever had! You screamed out my name!"
"If she is no one, then how do you know her name!"
"Ginger, listen to me …"
"Ginger? Ginger! You told me you were done with that fat cow!"
"Excuse me!"
In a harsh whisper, just loud enough for the other girl to hear, Ruby said. "You said I was the only one for you! You lying jerk! I even did that disgusting thing with another girl so you could watch! You promised me if I did it with my sister, you would leave her! That was last week … and we did it … just like you demanded … twice!"
"Randy! Again! Ugg! You know what, I have had it with you, you're just a sick bastard. Girl, you can have him!"
"Wait! Ginger, don't hang up! I can explain!" He screamed into the now dark scroll while Ruby slid off his back. After a couple seconds of silence, he turned on her with murder in his eyes. "You little bitch."
"I'm sorry," Ruby said in a flat tone, while turning around to walk away. "Guess you just never know what a piece of sewer trash will do."
"Do you know how much work I put into that relationship? How rich she is? If I could had gotten her married, I would've been on easy street, you little whore! Do you have any clue about anything?"
"Wrong question, but then again, can't say I have a high expectation of your intellect. The right question should be 'Do you even care you stop me from scamming some nice girl'? Or ask me, 'Does it make you feel good knowing you just help a girl get rid of a piece of shit like me?' And in all seriously, I would have to say … 'Yep!'"
"You … you … I ought to put you in your place, sewer trash."
"Try it." Again, Ruby gave him what she would call 'a happy smile' while others would say 'it was pure evil' would be closer to the truth as she stopped to look over her shoulder at him.
"It would be my pleasure," he said as he slowly looked around the growing knot of people around them.
She watched with amusement as he made the same calculation she had, although, he did it like four times slower then molasses. She could even see that dim bulb lighting up as he finally finished the math, no matter what he does, it can only end very badly for him. Get in a brawl with her, they both lose, only he will lose worst because most of the people around her will initially jump to her support. Without trying she could hear some of the mothers in the crowd speaking up for her. And Ozpin would, she hoped, look unkindly to anyone brawling on the first day, especially someone in their fourth year. She might get off with a verbal warning, he might get away just losing his cushy job, if he was lucky.
Then he surprised her as he stood up straight, with a grin close to her own, he went on to say, "But not as much as watching you get thrown out of here on your butt. I know who you are Ruby Rose, I have seen your record, heard the whispers; soon or later you will step out of line. And when you do, I'll be there to hold the door open for you."
"Good," she said still smiling as he stiffly passed her, heading to the main hall. "I'm sure after four years of being a doorman, when I do graduate, you might be able to do it without fucking it up." She gave it a heartbeat, then mumbled to herself, "Damn! Lame comeback much Ruby, so lame."
Shaking her head, she started back to her bags when a voice behind her said, "'How to win friends and gain influence in 50 years or more' by Ruby Rose." Ruby looked over her shoulder to see a tall blond dressed in short black shorts, leather half jacket and yellow top that barely contained her 'assets' and a cocky grin that drove Ruby nuts; the daughter of Ruby's mom's old friend, Yang Xiao Long. "I keep telling you kid; you will make millions selling your advice."
"Yo, Yang," Ruby said, trying hard to not to grin while exchanging high fives. "What's the word?"
"The word? I don't know," Yang said glancing down at the two green sea bags. "Are you running away from home again?"
"How does one run away from 'home' when one does not have a home in which to run from?"
"Heart Academy is home," Yang said with her grin never faltering. "And since you don't like it there, and you being a moody teenager that you are, that just proves it is home since no kid like their home."
"So says the girl who goes home every night, to sleep in the same bed, in the same room she always had instead of getting the joy of a new room and roommate every semester."
"Please, you haven't had a roommate in two years. Not since you stuck that last one's bed in a tree."
"Hey now! I had nothing to do with that," Ruby gave her such an exaggerated innocent look it had to be fake. "I was shocked, shocked I say, when I woke up hearing her screaming bloody murder outside our window. I have no idea how she got up there … or how those eight packets of 'gravity' dust, two to each leg of her bed for stability, got on her bed's legs or even how they were activated, by using a remote started found in any hobby store. And how would I know that someone use some kind of remote, a Frisker t-089 drone motor, to guild the bed out the window and into the tree." Ruby gave her a bright smile and a short pause, "I still say she has a problem with sleepwalking."
"Yeah, right. Sleepwalking." Yang let out a laugh as Ruby sat down on her bags, to open up her backpack. Sitting down next to her, Yang asked, "So what is the story, Ruby? Why are you here and not back home? I know you didn't come way over here to this side of town just to wish me luck."
"Of course I would," Ruby said looking shocked before she went back to digging through her bag. "You're like the big sister I never wanted. You hardly call, always forget my birthday, never visit anymore …"
"You know I am not allowed any more unsupervised visit after that last incident." Yang said grin, waving away Ruby's comments. "My dad, Mrs. Albright, everyone always over react when we try to have a bit of fun on our own."
"Truth!"
"So how long did it take you to fix that chemistry lab anyways?"
"Six months," Ruby grinned as she pulled out her spare scroll. "Learned a lot about dry walling. Anyways, here, read and weep, Miss Xiao Long." Ruby dug back into her bag, she though she saw her lighter floating around in there … somewhere. It drove her teachers nuts on how disorganized she can be at times and others times; she knew just by looking at her tools that someone had touch them.
"Oh my God," Yang whispered out as Rub y found her lighter. "Do you know what this says?"
"Not a clue," Ruby answered looking for her pack of cigarettes. She had three quarters of a pack left, plenty to last her until she was able to get back to that one store that would sell them to her. It was stupid, she was old enough to get into Beacon, yet still too young to buy her smokes. With a small burst of joy, she found her pack. "You know, reading is so hard!" Suddenly, she was being suffocated by a pair of yellow clad bobbies. "Yang!'
"You did it! I can't believe it! You always said you would do it. Oh, I am so proud of you!" Suddenly as it started, Yang pushed her away allowing Ruby to get a big breath of sweet, sweet air. "Why didn't you tell me when I called you on your birthday?" Then it was back to seeing nothing but yellow as Yang hugged her again. "Oh this is so great! We're going to have so much fun together!" Then Yang let her go as she grabbed her own scroll. "I got to tell dad about this!"
"Sure, sure no problem; just, you know, keep those things away from me." Ruby said picking up her pack and lighter that she had dropped when Miss Twin Peeks assaulted her. After she lit on, Yang tapped her on the shoulder, asking to bum one. "Since when did you start smoking?" Ruby asked handing over the pack.
"Just give me your lighter too."
"You want me to jump up and down on your chest to help you get started, well provided anyone could climb that high."
"Your just jealous… Dad? Hey dad, guess … Dad, seriously? Dad, I just got here two hours ago, nothing bad has happened yet." Ruby looked around the promenade at the various students walked past them, heading to the main build. She felt a tap on her shoulder, "Here … dad, stop worrying, I will be fine … will you listen …" without looking Ruby reached back to grab the pack and …
"You asshat!" Ruby yelled out as she dropped her now flaming pack of cigarettes on the ground.
"I told you to stop smoking … anyways dad, guess who is here at Beacon with me?"
"That's my only pack!"
"No dad, … dad …I know you have a class to teach but …"
"There is only one store that will sell to me and it is on the other side of town!"
"Dad, Ruby Rose is here …yeah Ruby … no, dad she is not running away from home again …"
"She is, however, going to commit murder!"
"You will thank me one day. Dad? No, I am serious, she got into Beacon Academy! …Dad? Oh come on dad, she is fifteen, you know."
Ruby watched Yang roll her eyes while she wondered where she could hide the body. Hell, her boobs probably weight as much as I do. Ruby thought darkly as Yang suddenly pushed her scroll at Ruby while snagging her half smoke, and last cigarette, from her hands. With horror, Ruby watch her crush the smoke in her bare hand. "You fucking twit!"
"Here, dad wants to talk to you."
"You are fucking twit." Ruby then held up the scroll and said, "Hey Mr. Xiao Long, did you know your daughter is a fucking twit?"
"Ruby, langue! And hello to you too. So Yang is telling me the truth? You got admitted into Beacon early?"
"Yep! I took the test last week, passed with flying colors, give them the old Ruby Rose razzle dazzle treatment and my bribe … err, I meant, my campaign contribution, check cleared, so BAM! Here I is."
"Does Ozpin … no, scratch that … of course he knows." Ruby heard him sigh as he went on. "Are you sure you want to do this now? I mean, do you think you are ready for Beacon?"
"Didn't you know that you were ready to attend Beacon back in the day?"
"I thought so, but I was also older then you. I know it might not seem like it but there is a big difference between fifteen and seventeen. Almost as big of a difference between seventeen and twenty-one. Your entire life changes so much in a short amount of time; what you thought you wanted no longer matters and what you thought would never matter, suddenly does in ways you can't believe. I mean when I first met Yang's mom when I was seventeen and someone told me I would be raising a beautiful and headstrong daughter to be what she is today, well I would have called them crazy but sometimes the best things in life are things you never expected."
"Awe, dad," Yang said blushing.
"And if I would have told your mom, Ruby, that one day her beautiful little girl, who was always gorging herself on strawberries, would end up being smarter, stronger and even more headstrong girl who outshined all of her peers, well she would say … Of course!" There was a long pause before he went on to say, "I just hope that you understand what you are getting into, you know you will always have a place in Beacon, no matter when."
"I understand what you are saying, Mr. Xiao Long … it's just … I need to do this, you know. I'm ready for the next level."
"Okay. Besides, it's not like I could ever talk a Rose out of anything anyways. Just … Yang, promise me you be there for her if she needs you, no matter how much she tries to deny she needs you, understand?"
"I'll be fine …"
"Hush Ruby, I'll be there dad, count on it."
"Guys, I am …"
"Ruby, you need anything at all, and I mean anything, even if it is a shoulder to cry on at 4 in the morning, I am only a call away, understand?"
"Guys, thanks, really, but I will be fine …"
"Ruby, promise me."
"I said I will be fine …"
"Ruby!"
"You're not my dad, you know!" She snapped, think this conversation was getting really annoying really fast.
"No, I'm not but I am family and family …"
"I don't have a fucking family, remember! My family is fucking dead!"
"All Hunters and Huntress are family, Ruby, and we take care of our own. This isn't going to be like Heart Academy, this is as close to the real world as you are going to get and have any kind of support. I can … I will be there for you if you need a bit of extra support and not because your mom was my friend, one of my best friends, but because you are a Huntress. Understand? You don't have to do it alone, Ruby."
"Sure, fine, whatever." She said to get him to shut up. He didn't get it, no one ever gets it; she is alone, she will always be alone and words don't change a thing.
"Ruby!"
"What do you want from me? Sign a pack in blood?"
"I want you to say it like you mean it."
"Okay, look; if I get in over my head … I'll let Yang put your number on my speed dial … okay?"
"I guess that is the best I can hope for, Ruby."
"Okay, got to run, Mr. Xiao Long, talk to you later." Ruby pushed the scroll back over to Yang as the father and daughter said their goodbyes, wishing it was that easy but knowing the truth. She will always be alone, it was safer that way.
