`Authors Note: Hello my Dark Readers and welcome to the Twelfth chapter of "Derelicts in Black". First, I would like to say I AM SORRY FOR MY HIATUS! I had final exams for my semester so I had to focus on that!
BUT I AM DONE WITH MY SEMESTER! So now I can finally focus on my stories for an entire month! YESSSSS! I have been so stressed and even came down with a sickness (no Disturbed pun intended) so looking forward to that!
I want to say thank you to all the readers who have given me their patience and to a select few who even helped me with planning this stories future schedule as well! (You know who you are and you will be thanked in detail very soon!
Also thanks to all who gave their free time to give this story a read and a special thanks to all who reviewed, followed, and favorite. Please be sure to review and comment what you think. I'd appreciate the feedback. Whether you like or dislike, it's all welcomed. I hope you favorite and follow. And don't be afraid to ask questions. Now then, I hope you enjoy because it's time to continue the story.
P.S.: A special thanks to Cocizuzu for becoming the 350th person to favorite this story.
P.S. A special thanks to Kitty-Kat Bell for being the 300th person to review.
Answering Questions: (If you want your question answered just leave it in the reviews)
To Osheana259: You are half right in your predictions of teams however in this chapter, the teams assembled, besides RBTR, shall be revealed. Also if I say yes then that spoils the surprise ;)
To Littlest1: I have thought long and hard on the teams and I think the results will be up to satisfactory and hold great shock, in a good way, that will keep things interesting.
To Tusbasa0129: The three new comers will be revealed literally in a bit! Stay tune friend.
To Kaypocalypse: They will be revealed in this chapter, hope you enjoy!
To Harley Jane Quinn: Glad to see a psychopath enjoys my writing. Be sure to introduce it to joker heh.
To EndlessChains: Yes, the Halloween Special was fun to make and I am glad you liked it. I would have published it sooner it wasn't for what I already mentioned in the special's author's note.
End of Questions: (I answered as best I could, thank you for asking!)
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY; all rights go to the Legendary Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth. I do not also own any of the music that will be shown in the story
Opening Theme: The Brilliant Green: Ash Like Snow, English version
Chapter 12: Pieces Fall Together Part 1
To say Ruby felt annoyed was an understatement. Things were supposed to be simple but, as if Madam Fate mocked her, they were not. She had listed out her objectives prior to her launch, she had a tendency for that, and planned to follow it to the letter.
The list was broad enough to follow in step: land, find a partner, find the temple, get one relic and leave. Simple in the beginning but no further.
Though she managed to land without injury, find the only three people she tolerated thus earning her a partner, and make it to the temple earning her relic, leaving would prove to be the most difficult. All because of those obstacles in between her steps.
First and, potentially, the worst being her run in with Weiss Schnee. The dread of seeing the albino first outmatched any dread in her life. Were it not for her uncle's advice, she shivered. Only Madam Fate knew what her future with Weiss Schnee as a partner would have been like.
The next was the fight with the King Taijitu. That Grimm delayed their mobility by a couple of minutes and gathered more people when Nora and Neo emerged.
She disliked it. It was nothing personal nor did she dislike them, despite the little annoyance of Nora's loudness and energy. She merely felt uncomfortable with her group growing larger for a few reasons.
It meant stealth was no longer an option which Ruby grieved. It was the best option to leave the forest quickly and effectively. But the larger the group, the harder stealth would become, especially for those who aren't trained in silence. This also meant risks and dangers would rise and the probability of death increasing. Ruby already had enough blood on her hands, she had no room for more and did not desire it.
The final obstacle was directly in front of her and above her. The deathstalker approaching and the Nevermore circling. Not to mention the new three figures running towards them.
A sigh escaped Ruby's lips. In the end, nothing was going as she planned. And there was, potentially, one reason behind it all.
She turned, slowly at first then rapidly, towards her sister and gave her the fiercest of glares she could muster. Her right eye twitched when seeing Yang ignoring the predicament around them and instead, nuzzling the scraggly blond, Jaune, into her bosoms. For some unknown reason, she had picked the boy up again and snuggled him, refusing for him to escape.
Ruby knew enough to know she had no actual interest in the flustered male. She would have been more aggressive with her actions if so. But that didn't mean Ruby felt any less annoyed with her sister constantly teasing boys for fun.
It had been like that since she hit puberty. She tended to become totally oblivious to everything around her when teasing; a tendency Ruby had grown to loath.
And despite knowing very little of him, Ruby felt a little remorse for Jaune. The poor bastard had been stuttering and blushing the entire time. Yang did not seem to mind it and continued her playful snuggling. She mentioned him reminding her of a cute infant. The comment must have hurt Jaune from his eye's wincing for a split second before reverting into his timid state. It intrigued Ruby to see how red his face got when Yang gave him a flirtatious wink "volunteering" to be his "mommy".
Before things escalated worse, to a potential law suit, with rolled eyes, Ruby approached them. They didn't notice her until, with a swift and firm grip, she grabbed her sister by her shirt, nearly causing one of Yang's bosoms to pop out.
"Ruby! What are-"
"I've grown tired of your antics. Yang" The red hooded girl muttered through gritted teeth. She tilted her head back a little to show the seriousness in her eyes. "Start explaining how this all happened." she demanded. "Now."
The commanding tone in her voice was reinforced by the gesture upwards towards the Nevermore.
Yang glanced at it then back down at her sister. She quickly recovered from her sudden tug and offered a little awkward grin. "Well, it's a long story."
She averted her eyes to the side when hearing a faint growl from Ruby's lips. She could feel those silver eyes staring into her soul.
Without warning, Yang felt herself being pulled closer to her sister's face and forced to witness the grimace the red hooded girl bore.
"Summarize it." Ruby hissed through her teeth.
As both girls stared at one another, Jaune, still in the arms of Yang, did not know what to do. He was absolutely flustered and sweating with Yang's, nearly exposed, bosoms shoved further into his face. He could feel the warmth and softness from each plumpy goodness.
'Oh goodness, oh goodness, oh goodness think clean thoughts, think clean thoughts, think clean thoughts! But they're so soft- ah no! No, no, no, no, no! Bad brain bad!'
In the end Jaune just decide just stay quiet for his own protection.
"Well?" Ruby asked.
Yang let out a dreary sigh as her head drooped a little. Her lavender eyes met Ruby's silver. "I… guess it all started when I woke up late. You see last night-"
"I. said. Summerize. Idiot!"
Both blonds jumped in fright from Ruby's venomous tone. Subconsciously, Yang squeezed Jaune tighter in her arms causing him to wince in pain.
"Alright, alright!". She cried franticly.
"Good, now talk."
"It was Weiss' fault!" Yang exclaimed. "She pulled me away to who knows where during out fight with the Beowulves!" She started looking a bit annoyed and averted her eyes. "She didn't even want to admit that we were lost and it was her fault! Ugh!" Yang stomped her foot against the stone.
"She kept denying it until we started arguing for like the hundredth time!'" She frowned and shook her head wearily. "So we just sat in the middle of the forest doing nothing until I look up and see a Nevermore!" Yang's attitude turned like a bi polar disorder from a frown to the cheekiest of grins.
"When I saw that bird I instantly got a brainstorm!" She cheered. "I grabbed Weiss and launched us up towards then the Nevermore and we landed on one of it's talons!"
Ruby raised an eyebrow with bewilderment. Yang noticed this and shrugged. "I was thinking that maybe we could cover more ground and maybe find the temple that way! I mean I wasn't wrong, we did!" She started swaying side to side happily. "I saw this place off a distance so I shot the Nevermore in the gut to try and swing it around to the temple which it did! I am a freaking genius!" The smugness in her tone quickly radiated with an equal level of smug on her lips.
However, the look on her face quickly changed into annoyance. "But guess what, even though I told her we'd find it that didn't stop Weiss from the constant complaining!" She groaned in frustration. "I swear it was just 'bad idea' this and 'this is dangerous' that! Like come on, be happy I found the temple!" She huffed a breath sharply.
"So to try and shut her up I recommended just jumping off since we found the relics and to quit her bitching. I thought she would follow since I jumped." Ruby could see a Yang grinning awkwardly as she shifted her feet.
"Unfortunately… she didn't." Yang chuckled. "Oh man, I can only imagine how pissed she's gonna be with me hehe… I am so screwed." She let out a weary sigh.
Ruby gave her sister the blandest of expressions. She should not have felt surprised by Yang's reckless plans. She does them so often that Ruby felt her patience thinning from the ridiculousness that only her sister could do.
And then, Ruby realized something; Yang consistently mentioned Weiss and her a lot. A trickle of worry spread through Ruby's mind. Eyes widened, she quickly grabbed Yang again by her shirt, causing her to groan in surprise, and pulled her in closely.
"Yang," she stared with a moment of hesitance. "Are you… and Schnee… partners?" She slowly asked, hoping the answer wasn't what she thought. 'Please say no, for the love of the lunar goddess please say no.'
Yang quirked an eyebrow to that question but grinned and nodded. "Yeah we are!"
Ruby felt as if part of her collapsed with dread.
"I guess I forgot to mention that." The blonde chuckled awkwardly. She did not even notice Ruby's hair drooping over her eyes. "Not gonna lie, I would have preferred hot stuff, horny boy, or feisty but I'm sure we can make this partnership work out!"
Ruby stiffened by that comment and felt a heat run through her.
"And besides, she is kinda pretty besides that bitchy attitude" Yang snickered and leaned closer to Ruby. "But you'll always be the prettiest girl in remnant my adorable baby sister! Come here and give me some cuddles!"
The heat inside Ruby suddenly burst like a wild fire. Her body was now shaking with her teeth clenched. Her heart raced faster, her vision felt blurry, and her mind started to go blank.
This feeling was familiar. An experience she hasn't felt since the day she took justice in her own hands. The same justice that got her expelled.
As Yang tried to nuzzle her cheek to Ruby's she was instantly met with a firm grip around her forehead and eyes that started to slowly crush her.
"R-Ruby!?" Yang yelped.
For the first time in a long time, Ruby was experiencing pure anger. And in the back of her mind, something poked pleasure in doing so.
'Do it.' chuckled a slow, inhuman deep voice. 'Punish her for sinning.'
This voice was familiar. It would speak to her in the most unexpected times. She had no memory of when it appeared but it had been with her for a long time.
"Sinning?" Ruby muttered. The voice snickered.
'Yes, they are sinners because they threaten you. By breathing, they will continue to do so.' The voice sneered. 'They are nuisances. They are weak. They are expendable!'
"Expendable?" Ruby asked.
"Yes." The voice answered. "They are but thorns to your rose young one. You MUST pluck them to free yourself."
"I must… pluck them." Ruby repeated. "To free myself." She stared at Yang and her hand hardened.
Yang yelped again as her sister's grip tightened. "R-Ruby?!" she cried. It was all she could muster. The pain was numbing her vocals.
"You… and Schnee… are partners." Ruby muttered, this time with a low growl. She gripped her sister's face harder. "That is a sin."
"Ow! R-Ruby! This really hurts!" Yang slowly groaned. Her voice was so faint it was less than a whisper.
An odd sensation of numbing spread through her head. It felt uncomfortable and moving, almost like traveling through Ruby's hand and into her mind. She thought she heard laughter, but it wasn't from Ruby. It sounded… deeper, demonic, and terrifying with no hint of kindness.
'Your time is done!'
'What?' Thought Yang. The voice came out from nowhere and its tone sent a shiver down her spine.
'Once you are all gone, she will be mine forever.'
'What?! What are you! What's going on!' Yang mentally screamed.
'And I will make all sinners pay!'
Yang now found it difficult to breath and lightly choked while gripping her sister's hand tightly. 'Ruby?! Ruby… what… what are you doing? Stop! Stop please!'
She could no longer speak and helplessly stared at her sister. However, all she saw was Ruby's pupils dilating to what she thought was fully black.
'Ruby… what-'
"Ruby." A new voice called.
Yang glanced to the right and saw Ren placing a hand on her little sister's shoulder. She could see the confusion on his face as he looked at her.
"What are you doing?" he slowly asked.
When the hand landed on her shoulder, Ruby reacted with a small jump of surprise causing her eyes to shut for a few seconds. When they opened, Yang could see that they were back to their usual silver.
Almost immediately, Ruby's grip eased which restored Yang's breath. Her mind felt better too, but it was all so confusing. Everything she saw and heard, was it real? Or was she just imagining it all? It certainly felt real, and that voice; the thought was enough to terrify her all over.
She glanced back at Ruby. There was much relief when her baby sister spoke to Ren normally in her blandest of tones. The expressionless face she always bore made no doubt that she was her usual self.
At least for now, a voice inside her said. This sudden thought caused Yang to worry. Why would she think that? She had no reason to, it was all possible that everything was just in her mind.
But maybe not. The voice spoke again.
Yang felt herself shiver, just thinking about the words that… thing said still haunted her. 'Once you are all gone, she will be mine forever,'.
Imaginary or not, Yang would rather die before letting anyone take her sister away. Whether imaginary or not, the message alarmed her and she silently vowed to watch her sister more keenly; for there is nothing that would ever separate Yang from her sister.
Suddenly, Yang's thoughts were cut off when Ruby thrusted the arm still gripping her face forward with enough force to send her flying backwards.
Except Ruby herself.
Quickly losing her balance, Yang tumbled backwards on the stone where her face collided with the cold floor, hard.
Unfortunately, Yang was still carrying Jaune thus causing him, too, to fall. With a yelp, Yang released him causing the boy to fall and land on top of Yang, accidentally elbowing her, stomach. The impact caused both to groan in unison as their heads collided with the stone floor.
Ren shook his head at the sight then side glanced towards Ruby.
"When I said perhaps you should release your sister, I never meant that."
The red hooded girl only shrugged "I think it was an effective choice." Ren looked a bit unsure.
"Still… I don't think Jaune deserved that."
Ruby glanced down at the male blond on top of her sister. His body was sprawled over hers with his head and legs on the stone. She did feel a tinge of regret from causing him unnecessary pain.
"Sorry Jaune." She muttered.
She meant her apology, though her tone didn't sound at all sincere.
The response however did earn another groan from both blonds. With rolled eyes, Ruby ignored their cry and turned to Ren. "Since they'll be out for a little bit, fill me in on what I missed."
With a small nod, Ren motioned Ruby to follow. "The Nevermore is circling closer." She noticed the seriousness of his tone. "And I believe Weiss is in danger of falling."
He pointed upwards where Ruby observed the Grimm flying almost exactly above them. It let out a windbreaking screech as it's wings flapped fiercely sending gusts towards the ground. Ruby's eye squinted as the wind hit her face and she noticed the demonic bird's body gliding and swaying roughly side to side.
These actions caused Weiss' body to flail and dangle like a piece of paper caught in between two walls.
'It's becoming restless.' She thought, and stared at Weiss' distant figure still gripping one of the Nevermore's talons.
In all honesty, she found some humored in seeing the heiress all helpless for once. She could only tolerate that, 'I am superior than you', attitude for so long.
It wasn't necessarily a bad thing to find amusement from someone's misery, right? Especially if it is from someone like Weiss.
So, despite the white-haired girl's predicament, Ruby's eyes dropped and turned to Ren.
"And what of the Deathstalker?"
"It is still pursuing those students." Ren pointed ahead in the distance.
He was correct, the Deathstalker was right behind them hissing and growling as it's legs rumbled the ground. When it got close enough, the beast jabbed its arms forward aiming for the student's limbs and torso. It roared in anger as they jumped, rolled and twirled around, avoiding in every way to not end up in between its pincers.
"They seem to evade it's strikes well."
"But for how long." Ren muttered.
Ruby watched intently as the Grimm continued jabbing, this time using its stinger in hopes of cutting one of them off. However, the students were determined and continued to evade and run. As for the Deathstalker, it's stinger was trapped deep within the soil that it could not come loose no matter how much it shook.
This fascinated her. While she had seen, and heard, Nevermores a couple times in the past, she never had the pleasure of witnessing a Deathstalker before, no less fight one. Her Uncle was right, it looked and acted like an oversized scorpion.
"They seem to evade it's strikes well but they will need assistance."
Ruby nodded in agreement. She diverted her eyes from the Grimm and towards the three newcomers.
They were still heading in their direction and the closer they got, the clearer Ruby could see them. Almost instantly, she recognized the one in the middle as Pyrrha Nikos, the celebrity Amazonian. The bright red hair and bronze armor made mistaking her identity almost impossible.
The other two behind her were two girls who looked identical, very identical.
'Twins.' Ruby thought.
They must have been; same green eyes, black hair, skin complexion and height. Everything about them screamed identical except for their opposite colored fashion.
One had long hair with cyan mascara highlighted around her eyes. She wore an all-white attire featuring a feathered scarf on a strapless dress with cyan lining. On her arms, she wore a pair of lengthened gloves with a silver chained belt around her waist and long white boots with blades at the heels.
The other twin had shorter hair and, like her sister, she too had tints of mascara around her eyes, only red instead of cyan. She wore a red strapless dress coated in black lining with long red heeled boots that Ruby secretly admired. Around her neck was a black choker with charcoal colored fur attached and hanging off her shoulders. Ruby noticed a pair of red metallic claws on each of her red gloves instead of blades liker her sister.
It was after a few seconds Ruby realized that she saw those two before. They were the same twins as before from the auditorium yesterday; the ones surrounded by boys. Both looked incredibly irate then and Ruby did not blame them. She found being surrounded by anyone irritable. The thought of crowds caused her to sigh.
"This is not good." She muttered.
Ren nodded. "I know. Fighting both a Nevermore and Deathstalker will not be an easy task."
"I was not talking about the Grimm."
Ren looked confused and turned to his partner. "If not that, then what?"
The red hooded girl did not reply right away. Instead she nodded over to Pyrrha and the twins and finally said.
"The group… its… getting unnecessarily large… and I dislike it."
Ren stared at Ruby in slight amazement. 'She isn't worried about the Grimm but rather an increase in people?'
"We are more similar than I thought." He muttered.
Ruby glanced at him, but Ren's eyes already averted forward. "I do not like large numbers either." He said. "More people more slower mobility. But even so, we must not abandon our comrades."
"You are right." Ruby agreed. "We all have to leave now."
"What of the Grimm?" Ren asked.
"What about them? Our objective was clear; retrieve the relics and return to the academy. There is no need for unnecessary violence unless we have no choice."
"A tactical retreat." Ren muttered as he thought about it.
"Guys!" Nora screamed as she suddenly came running with Neo right behind. "There's a Deathstalker and a Nevermore!"
Ruby raised an eyebrow as Ren sighed. "You just now noticed them?"
"We already know of the Grimm's presence Nora."
"Oh!" the orange haired girl replied. "Well~ did you know there was a girl on the Nevermore?!"
"Yes." Ren and Ruby answered simultaneously.
"Oh… well~… did you know she's falling?!"
"Wait… what?"
"Oh yeah she is totally falling, see?" Nora pointed upwards enthusiastically. Ren and Ruby both glanced up to see she was right.
The Nevermore had flown too aggressively to the point Weiss couldn't hold her grip anymore. She let go and was flailing like a madman. Her body twirled and swayed side to side from the wind as her hair flapped everywhere.
"She is falling." Ren affirmed.
"She isn't slowing down either." Blake noted as she approached and stood next to Ren, her gaze never leaving the falling heiress. Adam followed behind and moved next to Ruby as he silently watched the scenario play out with crossed arms.
"She is a hunter in training. She'll be fine." Ruby declared with a minor shrug.
As if jinxing, Weiss was reaching for her rapier to summon a glyph when a sudden blast of wind from the Nevermore spiraling caused her body to flop backwards. The sudden force was enough for her to lose her grip on her weapon letting it fall faster than herself and losing her only salvation.
"That is unfortunate." Adam muttered nonchalantly. Nora nodded and imitated a whistling noise as Neo recorded the drop on her scroll.
"That is just life." Ruby replied with another shrug.
"Should we… help her?" Blake asked.
"She is going to die if we do not." Stated Ren.
"Nice of you to volunteer then."
The long-haired boy confusingly turned to Ruby. "I'm sorry?"
"She's all yours." Offered Adam and gently nudged him forward as he stared at them all with bemusement.
"You can do it Renny!" Nora cheered as Neo nodded and winked at him.
Blake gave him a thumbs up and nodded to him. "Save her well."
With no retort coming to mind Ren merely sighed and nodded. "I'll… return momentarily."
With that he took a step forward observing where Weiss was destined to land quickly before dashing off in sprint.
The others watched him run and when he was far enough, Adam turned to Ruby. "Did you send Ren just because you did not want save her?" Blake glanced at red hooded girl as well with slight curiosity.
Ruby didn't turn, or show any change to her casual expression, to them. Instead she crossed her arms and said, "I did see you or Blake jumping to play the hero."
To that blunt statement, neither of them responded.
"Besides," Ruby continued, now she did turn to them with the smallest of smirks. "It's a win-win. She lives and I don't have to touch her. But if she doesn't make it, it isn't my fault."
Adam coughed up a brief chuckle as Blake shook her head while covering her lips.
"You should not put that on Ren either." Blake countered and frowned.
"I am not." Ruby softly defended. "It would not be his fault either. If she dies it would be from her own mistakes and that Nevermore. Ren was just being a good Samaritan in trying to save his fellow comrade. These results tend to happen in combat after all."
Adam shook his head as he smirked. "You are truly wicked Little Red.
"I know." The red hooded girl replied and bumped fists with the Faunus boy as Blake rolled her eyes with faint amusement.
Ren squinted his eyes as he glanced upwards for the seventh time at Weiss's figure. To save her, he had to continue being accurate in his timing. But her body fell faster the closer she got to the ground.
The wind did not help as it swayed her side to side. He did not know if it was either from the Nevermore flying or just the natural gusts. But it mattered little, she was falling faster and he had to accelerate his mobility in hopes of making it.
'She's almost down!'
Ren kept his eyes on her permanently now. He could see that she closed her eyes and thought he saw glimpses of fear.
This caused a slight panic in his heart and a sense of familiarity. Fear was natural for him when he was younger. He always felt it when the other children of his village would beat him in the woods or embarrass him.
He shook his head.
'Focus!' He thought and this time leaned a little forward to increase his mobility. His legs started to burn but he did not care. Seeing the fear on Weiss' face was enough to tolerate it.
She was nearing the ground and his legs started ache now. He powered through it, she would land in a few seconds and Ren was relieved to see that he would make it.
He smiled until suddenly, his smiled dropped and was replaced by a loud gasp.
Ren looked upwards and spotted it just a little to the right. He grinded the soles of his shoes into the ground and jumped to the left narrowly missing Weiss' rapier almost stabbing through his neck.
'How could be I be so careless?! I forgot she lost her weapon!'
When Ren's body hit the ground, he tumbled a little until he was back on his feet and glanced at the weapon landing stiffly in the ground, its pointed tip penetrated causing vibrations to run throughout its body before it quickly solidified its position.
He quickly realized this delay and his eyes widen.
"Weiss!" he shouted and dashed forward.
He was not going to make it. She just a few seconds from impact which made Ren panic. He felt anger rising. He was about to let a comrade die from his carelessness, he was about to disgrace himself, the teachings of his honorable elder, and perhaps the worst, his parents.
"No!" he acted quickly he still ran but this time he felt something pulse through him like a current of energy suddenly springing to life.
Without thinking he raised one of his glove covered hands and suddenly his fingertips sparkled pink.
'What-'
Before finishing his though he suddenly unleashed a small wave of pink aura that transformed into an oval shape. Weiss' body immediately came into contact with it, but instead of a splattered fatality, she was quickly absorbed by the oval as it scrunched her in then released her back into the air but not as high as before.
She let out a yelp of surprise as her eyes opened wide and came to a realization that she was still alive.
When the aura lifted her off, it returned to its oval shape and then suddenly disappeared into a dust like evaporation.
Ren was astonished by what he just did but did not have time to ponder. Weiss was still in the air so he quickly jumped and caught her midflight with one hand on her back and the other underneath her shins.
Weiss yelped again and turned abruptly letting her pony tail hit Ren's nose though it did not bother him.
When he landed, Weiss was now staring at him while holding her chest tightly. She was so close to Ren's face as he stared down at her with worry.
"Weiss, are you alright? Are you wounded in anyway? Please tell me now." He quickly asked and scanned her entire body for any sign of injury.
Weiss remained speechless. She kept staring at him, her heart was pounding so hard, so fast that she doubted it was from the fall. Her face felt hot and she could feel herself getting flustered. Her mouth felt dry as she tried to answer but no logical words could come out. She stuttered and quickly cleared her throat.
"I-I… I'm fine." Was all she could manage.
Ren nodded and let his shoulders drop slightly. "I am glad to hear that."
Weiss nodded as her eyes felt watery. She started breathing a little heavily and even felt some tingling in her most private regions that she prayed to the gods that Ren did not notice.
'My hero.' She thought and a small flashback suddenly came to her when she was a six-year-old child in her large play room alone with no one around.
All her toys were neatly put away and she was laying on the floor with a picture book of an old fairy tale. There she saw the picture of a beautiful princess falling in fright, Weiss turned the page and saw that she was now in the arms of a handsome man, with long black hair, who caught her, who saved her life from death.
The two were staring at each other passionately which made little Weiss blush and awe in amazement. She felt her little heart race by how romantic and beautiful the picture was.
When she turned the page the man and the princess' faces became one as they held each other in a tight embrace. And next to the woman was a white bubble with only two words in it.
"My…hero."
"I'm sorry Weiss could you say that again? I could not hear you." Ren asked as he set the heiress down.
Weiss snapped back to reality and shook her head. She felt herself blushing with embarrassment by the fact that she said that out loud.
"N-nothing Ren! I-I was just thanking you for helping me from that hellish fall!" She chuckled awkwardly and turned with closed her eyes. She slowed her breathing and begged for her heart to beat slowly. It felt ready to burst.
Ren raised an eyebrow but did not question any farther. "Well you gave me a fright as well, I was worried we would have lost you."
Those words did not help in slowing Weiss' heart down. 'Curse his beautiful, caring soul!' She thought. "Well… thank you again… Ren."
She turned to face him now and cleared her throat. "On behalf of the Schnee family I will reward you for your valorous effort!" She said in a professional tone.
Ren shook his head as he smiled softly. "Your gratitude is more than enough for me. I am just happy to save a fellow comrade."
Weiss was started to fear that she will faint from her heart racing rapidly. 'he is so honorable and humble! Take me now and fu- what the hell is wrong me?!'
She coughed a little and remembered something that made her blush a little more than she already was.
"W-well… while I respect your… decision Ren I must repay you somehow." She started shifting awkwardly. " So… at least have the pleasure of…. uh… kissing my hand."
Weiss panicked when she saw Ren's surprised expression and quickly waved her hands frantically.
"I-I am sorry if that sounded so arrogant! It is just a gratitude gesture that is in my family's tradition! Usually only men do this but when women are grateful they must allow the man to kiss their forehand and I deeply apologize if I sounded so demanding or forward! You do not need to do it if you do not want to! Unless you do want to- I mean…I… you… gah! Please forget what I just told you!"
Weiss felt herself die inside. She was always on point when keeping her emotions clear and calm. However, whenever she was around Ren, or even Ruby, she just loses it. She looked away too embarrassed to even sight him.
That is until she was caught off guard when she felt her hand being pulled gently and turned to see Ren kneeling. With one fluid motion, he calmly placed a quick and gentle kiss on her forehand before letting go.
"Was that ok?" he asked.
Weiss felt heat radiating from her cheeks. She could only nod as her brain decided to stop working.
"Good. Now come Weiss, we have to go now."
Ren quickly stood up and gestured Weiss to follow. After retrieving her rapier, the two began to run back to the group. It was then that they heard the screeching of the Nevermore and hissing of the Deathstalker growing louder. They quickened their pace though Weiss still felt hot.
The kiss was no big deal for Ren as he had done it to his honorable elder many times. But he was unaware of how flustered Weiss looked especially when she was normally pale.
She had only let one other man kiss her forehand before only because her father made that boy do it. In her family's tradition, only those of great worth can kiss or be kissed by a Schnee.
'Father must never know about this.'
'I hope Weiss isn't coming down with a fever.' Ren thought as he looked at her from the corner of his eye. 'She looks abnormally red.'
When he and Weiss arrived back at the abandoned ruins, Ren quickly approached Ruby with Weiss walking behind him.
"Looks like you saved the ice queen from her death." Ruby commented as she turned to Ren and Weiss.
The white-haired girl crossed her arms and scoffed. "Had I not lost my rapier I would not have needed any saving anyone."
"What sensible thing to say when her savior is standing next to her." Blake addressed with rolled eyes.
From that comment, Weiss caught herself and quickly turned to Ren. "I-I mean its not that I do not appreciate your aid Ren! Believe me I do! You are so noble and kind and-."
"It is ok Weiss, I understand what you meant." Ren assured a little awkwardly as Ruby rolled her eyes.
"It matters little now. You're still alive so now we can move onto-"
"Hey Weiss!"
'Oh great.' Thought Ruby.
All eyes turned to see Yang walking up to the group with a casual grin. She was focused more on the heiress than anyone else and happily waved at her "Glad to see you made it partner! Now we can all be togeth-ow!"
Before she could even finish, Weiss had rushed with blinding speed towards Yang and delivered, what she believes, a justified punch on the head.
"You idiotic, fat chested bimbo!" screamed Weiss. "You left me! I could have died! I almost did die! What is wrong with you?!"
She was now holding Yang by the collar of her shirt and shook her violently. Her face was boiling with anger and the cheeky grin still on the blonde's face made her teeth clench.
"Weiss chill out!" Yang laughed. "Get it?! Cause you're an ice queen and-ow! Don't pinch me! Ow stop!"
Everyone watched the ridiculousness play out. Ren and Blake were confused by the whole thing while Adam took some amusement in watching. Neo and Nora were laughing while recording the scene with their scrolls.
Ruby felt a minor headache approaching. The only two people who greatly annoyed her were going to be partners for the next few years and study side by side with her.
She sighed. And was about to curse her luck until she watched those two butt heads with shaking fists.
'Perhaps… these two would bother each other more than me…' She shrugged. There were more important matters to attend.
She turned abruptly to see how far the Deathstalker was.
It was not too far now. And she could see that Pyrrha and those twins are running exhausted.
'Even combat celebrities have their limits.'
Causing everyone to shift their sights to her, Ruby unsheathed her crescent rose and started walking away.
"Ruby what are-"
"Adam," Ruby interrupted. "I want you and Blake to me closely. Ren, I need you to follow in then divert to another direction and secure suppressing fire."
"What are you planning?" Blake asked.
Ruby did not turn back. Instead, she cocked her weapon. "We are going to aid them." She nodded over to Pyrrha and the twins.
Adam and Ren exchanged glances and nodded to one another. Blake sighed and unhooked her weapon from her belt.
"Now hold on just a second!" Weiss walked over and stood right in front of Ruby with her arms crossed. "You are not seriously thinking about fighting a Deathstalker are you?!"
Ruby side glanced at Weiss. "No. The plan is to keep it at bay while those three escape back to the ruins. After we let them grab their relics, we make our escape."
"That idea is preposterous!" Weiss cried. "You cannot delay a Deathstalker, every time you hit its shell, it only grows stronger! Surely you know this you dunce!"
Ruby took a second to think. In truth, she did know. Her uncle had never been specific on Grimm so he always had her research them on her own.
"I do. But I am still going."
It was then that Yang now stepped in front of Ruby. "I'm sorry Rubes but I agree with Weiss. A Deathstalker is too dangerous to fight alone.
"I already said I am not trying to kill it and I will not be alone."
"I don't care! This is not like some Beowulf Ruby! That thing is more dangerous! More powerful! It could kill you!"
"I am aware of that Yang. But I was taught to never abandon your comrades. No matter what. So, are you asking to stay here and let them die?"
"Better them than you!" Yang screamed and huffed deep breaths.
Her body was shaking as sparks of ember started to form around her hair. Everyone grew tense except for Ruby as she stared Yang down despite the blond now unlocking her bright red eyes. Weiss took a step back when she saw this argument getting out of hand. Adam pulled Blake back bit as Nora and Neo both stepped behind Ren.
"I am sorry Ruby but I won't let my baby sister-"
"Won't let me? Ha! Do not even try to start caring about my safety!" Ruby snapped as she blinked and revealed her eyes being all black. She took a step closer into Yang's face which caused the blonde to flinch a little but still hold her ground.
Everyone remained silent and watched as the tenseness thickened. But what surprised everyone the most was when Ruby said, in the eeriest voice, "You did not in the past, so do not try and start now because I will never forgive you. We are not family."
Ren and Blake went slightly wide eyed as Adam looked away. They all knew what she meant but even so, that was a bit too far. Neo put her scroll down awkwardly as Nora, for once, stopped smiling and looked away. Jaune rubbed the back of his head awkwardly as Weiss could only remain silent, too abashed to say anything.
Yang gasped as her eyes reverted to lilac again. She replayed those words in her mind over and over to the point she shook violently. "Ruby...", her head dropped as the red hooded girl still stared at her.
"You… you…" She raised her head up slowly to show how big and watery her eyes were. Her cheeks were puffed out as she whimpered a little. Nora let out a little aw at how cute she looked.
"How could you say that! Don't be a meanie Ruby! That hurt my feelings!"
Yang now dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around Ruby as she bawled her eyes out.
Ruby's eyes reverted back to silver as she shifted uncomfortably, trying to push her sister off."
"Yang… stop crying… and get off."
"No! I don't want my sister to go!"
"Yang… your acting like a child."
"I'm never letting go! Neeeveeeer!"
"Yang stop I… I did not mean it… so… please get off."
"No! I don't want you to go!"
"For goodness sakes Yang stop you are soaking my corset!"
"Tears of love!"
"…Yang..."
No one could hardly believe the two sisters actions. One second they looked ready to kill each other and the next... this.
"Nothing you do will make me get off!"
"What if… Adam, Blake and Ren each give you a kiss on the cheek."
"What?!"
"DEAL! NO TAKE BACKS!"
"Hold on!
"Ruby!"
"You cannot!"
"I object to this Rose!"
"Oooh Neo get the scroll ready!"
Ruby ignored all the yelling as she pushed her sister away. "We will discuss the terms later. Right now, we must help those three."
Silence returned as the shenanigans were dropped but not forgotten. She turned to Ren, Adam, and Blake. "Let's go."
Weiss scoffed. "If you really are going to do this then perhaps you could use more-"
"Respectably no Schnee. We need to be cunning and swift. More numbers makes that difficult." Now she turned and stared into Weiss' eyes which caused a tingling sensation in the girl's chest. "And no offense but you will just get in my way."
Without waiting for a reply Ruby took off creating a small gust that rose Weiss' skirt. She quickly pushed it down and clenched her teeth.
"You-"
A few seconds later, Blake and Adam rushed by her causing her skirt to slightly rise again. She was becoming irate as the tingling sensation was now gone. "Perverts, the lot of you!"
Ren placed a hand on the heiress' shoulder and smiled. "Wish us luck."
He did not wait for a reply as he took off to catch up with the others.
Weiss stared at his distant figure and a few times her eys dropped lower to his buttocks which made her blush.
"Good luck… my hero." She muttered.
"What did you say?" Yang asked as she wrapped an arm around Weiss.
The heiress sneered and shoved the girl off. "Nothing you fat chested bimbo!"
"What did you call me you flat chested brat!"
"What?! How dare you! I will teach you some respect!"
"You're just jealous I'm getting lucky tonight!"
"You are getting no such thing! Especially with Ren!"
"Don't be sad ice queen, better luck next time."
"I do not need luck!"
"Then tell you what… I was planning on sharing him with Ruby down the near future but that can wait since you're so tense~. So how about you, me, and hot stuff-"
"No! no, no, no, no…well maybe- wait no!"
As those two argued, Jaune looked in the direction of where the others took off. A part of him felt saddened that he could not do anything at all to help. He could not even bring himself to tell everyone that it was his fault they had to deal with a Deathstalker. And now they had to clean his mess up. Just like everyone else does. He knew Ruby was talking to Weiss but for some reason he felt as though the red hooded girl was looking past Weiss and really staring at him.
"You'll only get in the way." He had heard those words so often that they practically owned him.
'That's all I'll ever be. A burden.' Jaune thought and slowly lowered his head.
However, what he did not realize was that he was being watched by saddened eyes and a frowning face who knew what he was feeling just by looking at him.
And little did he know. That heavy feeling was also shared by another.
And thus the twelfth chapter comes to an end. My Dark Readers, again I am sorry for my delay. But now that the school semester is over, the main story continues.
Please leave a review, good or bad. If there are any constructive criticisms you have, please do not hesitate to tell me, it helps me to grow as a writer. Also if you have any questions or suggestions fill free to leave them in the reviews. Prepares yourselves, for the main story continues.
Until next time my Dark Readers. Forevermore – FT