"Happy Halloween guys!" Jaune cheered happily, waving an arm at them with a grin on his face as his team approached.
"Happy Halloween Jaune." Yang grinned, and the rest of Team RWBY offered mumbles in agreement. Except for one member…
Ruby huffed and rolled her eyes. All of Beacon was dressed up and practically buzzing with excitement over her special day, without actually registering it was her special day.
The cafeteria was decked out, with cobwebs hanging from the ceilings and candle-lit pumpkins casting the windows in an eerie glow. The food was a mix of candy and a banquet of weird bits and bobs that looked like eyes, guts, fingers, toes and so on. Naturally the bowls of candy were practically empty, whilst the feast of icky was only being feasted on by people being dared to.
There was even a big banner at the entrance, greeting students and teachers alike with the words 'Happy Halloween!".
No birthday banners. No cake. No nothing. The only sign it was her birthday was her gift from Yang, who'd bought her a bunch of gun magazines and a neat scope for Crescent Rose that Ruby had been saving up for.
But everyone else…she'd been dropping totally unsubtle hints it was going to be her birthday for weeks, and not a single person had offered her a birthday gift, a birthday wish or acknowledgement it was her freaking birthday!
"Neat costume Ruby." Jaune said as he sat down opposite her, breaking her from her mental tirade. "Do I have to be worried about you vanting to suck my blad ?"
Ruby couldn't resist the giggle his spot on impersonation elicited from her, and she felt the top of her lip brush against her plastic blood-suckers as she smiled at him.
"Do you even have any blood mister mommy's boy?" Ruby teased, making Yang whoop and Jaune pull a stricken look with his heart on his chest.
"I will have you know that is a very insensitive thing to ask a mummy." Jaune replied, grinning at her, before looking over to Weiss. "Happy Halloween Weiss."
"A happy Halloween to you too Jaune." Weiss said in reply, and Ruby gasped before her eyes darted between the two as if they'd just told a racist joke.
"Weiss?!"
"Ruby?"
"Are you okay? I told you that makeup probably has something in it!" Ruby exclaimed, pointing a worried finger at her friend, who's face was a light blue on account of the face paint she'd put on. Weiss had, quite accurately, dressed up as the abominable snowman.
"I'm not having an allergic reaction to anything!" Weiss retorted, huffing angrily. "Why on Remnant would you think that?"
"Because you didn't insult Jaune when he initiated conversation with you."
Yang snorted and Blake began coughing so hard she almost dropped her book on the floor. Jaune face-palmed onto the table whilst Nora smiled maniacally and Ren coughed into his fist. Pyrrha held a hand over her face, but it was obvious she was smiling.
"E-Excuse me?!" Weiss snapped, cheeks clearly red underneath the layer of sparkly blue face paint-makeup she was wearing. "I will have you know that I can have a perfectly normal conversation with Ar-Jaune so long he doesn't attempt his vomit inducing pickup lines!"
"I have never seen you say anything nice about or to Jaune in the entire time we've spent at Beacon." Ruby retorted, and a pained groan emitted from Jaune. Normally Ruby would feel a little cruel for rubbing his doomed crush in his face, but considering her forgot her flipping birthday she couldn't help but care a little less.
"That's-Just shush!" Weiss continued, folding her arms and turning her head away from Ruby petulantly, ponytail lashing out like a whip. Yang snickered.
"Well this has been fun." Yang said, leaning back and stretching her back, and Ruby immediately averted her eyes as it did interesting things to her chest. Yang had decided to be a cavewoman for Halloween, and she'd dress rather boldly in a fake leopard skin crop top and skirt that fell to just above her knees, toned abs that could cut steel flexing for all to see. Along with other things. "But Yang needs to have some fun. I'll see you guys later."
"Can we join?" Jaune asked, immediately wincing. Weiss sighed and face palmed, whilst Ruby looked between the three of them with confusion radiating from her.
"Sure Vomit boy." Yang replied, rolling her eyes before standing up. "I'll kick your butt and call it training."
Jaune slumped and Pyrrha patted him on the back with a sympathetic smile as she and the rest of Team JNPR stood up.
"See you later Ruby…" Jaune sighed as they left, and Ruby waved goodbye.
"Didn't they eat?" She asked Weiss, who shrugged before she stood as well.
"Oh! I just remembered I have to call my father for Dust business…that needs to be done."
Ruby blinked as Weiss hastily stalked away, adding onto her building perplexion until she turned to speak to Blake, only to blink and realise her last teammate had somehow disappeared quietly.
The emptiness around her was like a yawning chasm, and she sighed as she picked at the gummy worms she had picked up as desert for lunch.
"Happy birthday to me." Ruby muttered quietly, too sad to even feel like crying. Was she a bad friend? A bad leader? Was that why they all forgot her birthday?
Appetite lost, Ruby sighed and made her way out of the cafeteria and towards her empty dorm room.
Ruby huffed as she stomped towards her dorm room, wrapping her (intentionally) tattered black vampire cape tighter around her shoulders as she did so. Stupid friends who forgot her stupid birthday…
"Wu-oh, looks like we've got a grumpy little rose on our hands Tai."
"Shut up Qrow."
Ruby stumbled to a stop, whirling around before disappearing in a burst of petals as she surged towards her father and favourite uncle.
"Oh no…" She heard Qrow sigh, before she slammed into them both, making them stagger at the impact. But they were well used to her super hugs and recovered quickly, wrapping her up in their familiar, warm, strong arms as they hugged her back.
"Dad! Uncle Qrow!" Ruby cheered into their chests. "You really came!"
"Of course we did sweetie." Tai rumbled, and she felt Qrow snort. "Not even the end of the world would make us miss your birthday. Right Qrow?"
"Eh. Sure." Qrow shrugged, but Ruby knew by now that was just Qrow-speak for 'I agree with everything you just said but refuse to admit it'.
"I'm so happy!" Ruby squealed, doing her best to crush them both with her one-armed hug. "At least…nevermind."
"Sweetie?" Her dad asked, gently pushing her off so she stood before them both, each of them wearing their own worried expressions. "What's wrong?"
"M-My friends forgot it was my birthday dad." Ruby answered, looking at the floor so they wouldn't see the tears welling in her eyes. "They all forgot about me…"
"Oh sweetie." Her dad said softly, embracing her gently and stroking her hair softly. She could hear Qrow muttering under his breath nearby. "I told Yang they should just be honest with you but of course she didn't listen to me."
"W-What do you mean?" Ruby stammered, eyes wide as she stepped out of her father's warm embrace and looked up at him.
"Your friends wanted to do something special for your birthday, but Beacon has strict rules around parties after…a few incidents back in the STRQ days." Tai explained, giving a rather pointed look in Qrow's direction. "They couldn't do anything in Vale either because Torchwick is making the price of everything skyrocket with his Dust robberies, so instead they've planned a treasure hunt for you. You find them, you get their presents from them. Me and Qrow are here to give you your first hint. When you're done, find us in the cafeteria for our presents for you eh?"
"Yes sir!" Ruby smiled, elation flittering through her. Her friends hadn't forgotten it was her birthday after all! "Where do I need to go?"
"The place you earned your name, Crater Face." Tai answered, waggling his eyebrows and putting on a booming, showman-like voice. "I want the story for that by the way."
"Nope!" Ruby grinned, before zooming away with the help of her semblance.
"Kids should've told her." Qrow grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"They'll know to do it differently next time. You said it yourself, they're just kids. Now we better hurry up if we don't want Glynda to find Ruby's presents."
Qrow shrugged and followed after his oldest friend, staring at the ground as an uncomfortable feeling washed over him.
"They'll have to grow up soon, Tai." He muttered quietly. "They all will."
"Weiss!" Ruby cheered, slamming into her friend unexpectedly. The abominable snowman screamed and fell over with a groan and Ruby quickly got off her and pulled her onto her feet. "Sorry Weiss…I…I just got excited that you hadn't forgotten it was my birthday."
"Then…!" Weiss closed her eyes and sighed, rubbing her head before shaking it. "It's…It's fine. I will allow it this once, but this once only. Seriously Ruby you could have killed us both."
"I mean, a hug is less dangerous than me sneezing on your Dust." Ruby smiled, staring at the now fixed pavement where she had first bumped into Weiss.
"That's not…Just forget it. For now." Weiss coughed, shifting on her feet before giving Ruby a serious look. "I'm sorry for being so mean to you."
"Weiss, we've already-"
"Let me finish Ruby. Please." Weiss insisted, and the sincere, almost pleading look on her face made Ruby nod and let her friend speak. Weiss gave her a small, thankful smile before she continued. "I was cruel to you. For no other reason than jealousy, spite and misplaced pride. I'm glad you are my leader. But above all, I'm glad you are my friend, my first real friend. I just…I want you to know that I am grateful and…appreciate you, deadly hugs and all."
"Weiss…" Ruby gasped, feeling herself tearing up at her friend's kind, honest words. In all honesty she had no idea what to feel. This was just so…weird.
"That is why I have gotten you this gift. It is dangerous, but I trust you to use it wisely." Weiss said, face a stoic, serious mask. Getting the message, Ruby nodded and did her best not to bounce on her heels as Weiss reached behind her and revealed a black, velvety box.
"Happy birthday Ruby." Weiss said, handing over the box. "Be careful with it. I'm being serious."
"I will." Ruby nodded, reverently taking the box and beaming at her friend. "Thank you Weiss."
"You don't even know what it is yet." Weiss replied, rolling her eyes but that didn't stop Ruby from seeing the pleased look on her face at the praise.
Taking the hint, or rather letting her own curiosity take over, Ruby undid the little red bow and slowly opened the box, cocking her head at the sight of a glowing crimson crystal. Her eyes widened when she realised it was Fire Dust, and if the sheer energy radiating it was any indication…
"A Volcanic Dust crystal." Weiss explained in a hushed voice, gently guiding Ruby underneath a nearby tree. "It's illegal due to how dangerous it is, so don't use it unless absolutely necessary."
"Why have you given me this?!" Ruby exclaimed quietly, torn between gratitude at the sheer amount of trust Weiss clearly had for her if she was allowing her to have such a dangerous item and horror at the thought of having something so potent Atlas and Vale had listed its use in wartime as a war crime.
"Because one day you'll need it." Weiss replied calmly, though her voice was lined with a harsh, serious edge. "You keep running after people like Torchwick and the White Fang, and along the way you'll run into someone more powerful than both. More dangerous than both. I might not be there to help you, so having this means that if I'm not there for whatever, in a way I'll still be fighting alongside you."
Ruby glanced at the Dust, glowing ominously and casting them in a crimson, blood-like glow. It was creepy to say the least.
"I won't make you regret this Weiss." Ruby swore, closing he box gently and meeting her friend's gaze. "I promise."
"Arc's honour?" Weiss teased, and Ruby snorted at her using Jaune's, well one of Jaune's, catchphrases.
"Arc's honour." Ruby nodded, smiling back at her friend.
A/N: Next chapter will be released November 10th 2022!