Hello, my friends, I am back with another chapter of Black Roses. It's been a while, hasn't it? Yea, sorry about that. I really planned on finishing this on New Year's but I ended up having the worst writers' block ever! It annoyed me that I couldn't think of anything to write that I ended up um…wreaking some things in my home. Yea…that wasn't fun to clean up afterwards.
Someone pointed out a mistake I made a past chapter doesn't really go well with what I wrote later on and I've gone back to fix that. It's when Black checks out some books relating to the faunas, and when asked about it he replies with "Because there were no faunas where he lived," Even though he is later revealed to be a faunas as well (The Saiyan Tail). It's Chapter 6 in the second section if you want to read the little fix.
Now onto questions or just question-
Talonsen: Just how much you beefed up Salem's power to make her fit in this story?
—Salem is far more powerful than her canon counterpart, she alone is a literal threat to everyone, besides Black and Gohan of course. But like I said before, I didn't just make her strong for the hell of it. There's a reason why she's this powerful and how she was able to bind someone like Black with her magic,(but also remember that Black was heavily exhausted and wounded from the battle against our favorite Saiyans) and that reason is tied to her Master. Who will later be revealed in a later chapter.
Anyways, let's get on with this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything of DBZ/DBS or RWBY so please support the official release.
Black was walking through the halls, eyes on his scroll. Three days have gone by since JNPR's battle with the Grimm Knight. The team had fully recovered thanks to their Aura. Pyrrha was released by her doctors within the second day. Most of her wounds had healed just like her team but still had slight trouble using the injured arm at first, luckily Jaune was there to offer help with carrying or lifting heavy things for her. Nora was still a bit uneasy about what happened back in the forest, but Ren was there to help comfort her.
Rumors of what happened to team JNPR quickly spread, resulting in some of Ozpin's students losing some trust in him. Who wouldn't though? Beacon's headmaster personally sent a team of first years on a mission in which they returned with grave injuries. But then people remembered that this was a school that trained students to become huntsmen and huntresses, and anything unexpected could happen in missions.
Fortunately for Ozpin these rumors and mistrust with the headmaster remained within Beacon, never reaching the Media. Otherwise, the backlash of the headmaster's decision would have been far greater.
Black cared little about all that, right now his interest was in Tenkawa the village JNPR was sent to investigate. It held a population of at least 40 people, men, women, and children. All humans. It was just a normal village, nothing special about it. Unlike the other village which was one of Remnant's dust mines. Yet Salem sent her Grimm Knight to attack Tenkawa, why? She would never just have a village be attacked for nothing, there must be a reason why this village and the one before were attacked. What was the connection between the two?
Black shut off his scroll and rubbed his temples, he's been thinking about it for the past two days and it was beginning to give him a headache. Black let out a tired sigh. An alarm went off on his scroll. Giving it a look, he saw that it was a reminder of his meeting with Adam. Apparently his ex-partner had been meaning to speak with for the quite a while. Black rubbed the bridge of his nose. He didn't want to deal with whatever he had to say, at least not right now. Maybe after a short tea break, he'll go see the bull faunas, yea that should help his head a bit. With his mindset on that, he made his way to his dorm to grab his tea set.
In the cafeteria, there was a large number of students talking about the upcoming Beacon Dance and how fun it's going to be. Many of them discussing how they're going to ask out their crushes and partners. Others talking about what dresses and outfits they were going to wear. Everyone seemed to be looking forward to the Party. Everyone except for one little rose.
Ruby dropped her head onto the table. "What am I going to do. The dance is only three days away and I haven't asked Black if he'd like to go with me." Ruby munched on some cookies she brought with her. It wasn't like she never had an opportunity to ask him. It was more like she couldn't muster up the courage to do so.
Giving a heavy sigh, she glanced around the cafeteria. There was a couple sitting to the table next to hers, the girl giggling at something the guy was saying, most likely he was flirting with her. In the table in front of her was a couple who seemed to be planning their date. Everyone in the cafeteria seemed to be with their partner for the dance and here she is sitting alone because she's scared of asking the guy she likes to the dance. The scythe wielder shook her head. "Come on Ruby. You've fought Grimm, criminals, a rouge organization, and a giant mech. There's nothing to be afraid of. He's just a guy, a smart, cool, strong…handsome guy…" Images of the time when she walked in on him half-naked played in her head. Ruby's face turning into a deep shade of red. She quickly shook the images away and gave her cheeks a light smack. "No Ruby, you need to focus. The dance is three days away. If you don't ask him out, someone else might do it and you don't want that to happen right?"
No, of course not." She replied to herself. "Then today, you're going to go up to him and ask him out, alight? Yea. You can do it. I can do it. You can do it. I can do it. You can do it! I can do it!" Ruby jumped from her seat with her hands and shouted.
"You can do what?" Black questioned from behind.
Ruby jumped from the sudden voice. "AH! Black! Whe-whe-when did you get here?"
"Just now."
"Oh, um, did you happen to hear anything?" Ruby hesitantly asked.
"Other than you shouting, "I can do it" no, nothing else." Black said, taking a seat next to her, placing his teapot and cup on the table. "It's best if you sit. You're attracting a lot of attention to yourself." Ruby looked around noticing the stares she was receiving from people. Sitting back down Ruby hid her red face within her hood. The two sat in silence for a minute. "S-So where are the others." She asked embarrassment still clearly heard in her voice.
Black poured himself some tea, "Lewis and Alli are assisting team CVFY in clearing out the room that the party will take place. They're supposed to leave on a mission in a couple of hours, so they want to clear everything out before handing the job of decoration to another team." Black sipped his tea.
"I think I heard team CVFY asking Yang and Weiss if they wanted to set up the party for them." Ruby said.
"I see." Taking a sip, "Don't really see that playing out well." Black commented.
"Why do you say that?"
"Your sister and the Schnee have different tastes when it comes to how they want people to view them. Thus, I am certain that their ideas for the party are going to collide with one and another." He explained.
"Yea, I get what you mean now." She sighed mentally, she's not going to enjoy being in the middle of that. "And Gohan?"
The ex-kaioshin placed his cup down. "Gohan…is out today. Most likely spending the day with his half-sister."
"Oh, I bet Penny is having a great time then." Ruby smiled, getting a little over of her embarrassment.
Black didn't look up, his eyes staring down at his reflection in the tea. Gohan wasn't with his sister. The Saiyan was gone when he woke up this morning. His guess is that he's gone back to Tenkawa, in search of the Grimm Knight or any sign of where he's gone to. It's been like that for the past three days. A wasted effort he must say. Salem isn't the type of person to let the enemy get any information on her or her subjects. He must think it's his fault that those people died. For not being there to protect them. Such thoughts must arise if you are titled the Hero of Remnant.
Realizing that he had stayed quiet for a bit too long, he decided to ask her a question. "What about your team? I don't see them around."
"Weiss is out buying the decorations for the party. Yang is the city with Nora shopping for their dresses and Blake …I don't know where Blake is."
Black took another sip of his tea, "I see." The cat has been disappearing a lot lately, from both classes and on her team. Last time she did something like this she was looking into the White Fang and Roman. Is the cat going on her own again? She's quite the thorn in Roman's side. If she gets too close then he'll have to intervene, but for now, he'll let her be.
Ruby watched as he grabs a toasted bread from the plate that was set in the middle of the table that left from this morning breakfast. "Ya know there's a tasty pastry that goes well with your tea than plain old toast." The mention of something going well with his tea grabbed his attention. "It's called a Rosquete, they don't make it here in Vale only in Atlas. If you ask Weiss maybe she could order some for you."
Black gave her a look, "I assume that this Rosquete is some type of sweet."
"Yup." Ruby smiled.
"Then I'll pass." He replied, his attention returning to his tea.
Ruby pouted and eyed the older teen. "Say, do you have something against sweets?"
"I do not. Why do you ask?"
"Well it's just that anytime something sweet is offered to you, you just reject them. Like that one chocolate cake I offered you that one time or how you decline to have syrup on your pancakes." Ruby explained.
The ex-kaioshin stayed silent, slightly turning his head away from the girl. Ruby leaned forward to get a better view of his face. "Black?" She questioned.
He let out a sigh before speaking. "I…never had sweets before." He said with little care. It wasn't a big deal right so why should he care. Unfortunately, Ruby thought otherwise. Black slightly jumped at the sound of Ruby's hands slamming the table. "WHAT?! You're telling me that you never had sweets in your life?!"
"T-That is what I just said." Black responded taken aback by the girl's sudden outburst. Ruby grabbed his hand and pulled him up. "What you are doing?"
"I'm taking you to a bakery and candy shop. Today, I'm going to introduce you to the world of sweets." Ruby kicked the cafeteria doors opened and continued to pull the older teen., completely forgetting the objective she had for today with this new one.
"You're making this more of a big deal than it needs to be. I don't need you to—No! We're going to the sweet shops and that's final." Her words quickly shutting up the ex-kaioshin. Black stared at the redhead with wide eyes, surprised by her commanding nature. He said nothing as Ruby continued to drag him.
"Guess Adam will have to wait."
Adam Taurus let out a sneezed. "Damn, am I getting sick?" Shaking his head, he ignored it and continued his walk. There was no real destination he was heading to today. He was just taking a nice walk down Vale's streets. Something he needed after having to put up with Roman's annoying crime stories for the 100th time. He has no clue how Black is able to put up with the man.
The Bull Faunas let out a tired sigh. Recently the visions he's been having for the past couple weeks had finally ceased. He wasn't sure exactly why they've stopped but he wasn't going to make a fit about since now he's been able to get much better sleep at night. Still, he must tell Black about this, just in case they come back again.
Shouting was heard up ahead from where Adam was walking to. Looking up he saw a man holding a human child by the arm with a strong grip. "You little brat! Stealing me from me again!" The man shouted.
"Let go of me!" The child shouted back as he tried his best to free himself from the adult's grip. Two children came up to the man, a faunas boy, and a human girl. "Let him go!" The boy shouted, hitting the man's side while the girl tried freeing her friend's arm.
"You little brats!" The man shoved the faunas boy head away causing him to fall down. "I'll show you what happens when someone steals from me!" The man raised his hand, ready to hit the boy he was holding. But then he was suddenly grabbed by the wrist, looking over his shoulder he saw that it was a faunas, a Bull Faunas. "Let him go." Adam coldly said, his glare sending shivers down the man's spine but still the man refused to let the boy go. "No. That boy and his two little companions have been stealing from my shop for the past week. They need to learn a lesson."
Adam looked down at the boy to what he stole. It was an apple. Anger began rising within Adam. He was going to hit this kid for stealing an Apple?! Damn, he wanted to break this man's wrist.
Sounds of whispering were heard from around Adam. He quickly took notice that they were causing a scene. He didn't need the attention on him right now. Facing back to the man, Adam said something that mildly surprised the kids. "I'll pay for it."
"Huh?"
"You heard me. I'll pay for it." Adam repeated.
The man scoffed before letting the boy go. "Fine but it's double the price since it's, you that's paying for it." The man giving Bull Fauans a disgusted look.
"Figures he's a racist." Adam pulled out his wallet and handed the man the money. He stood by and watched as the man walked away. He then turned to the kids who were helping their faunas friend up from the floor. Adam crouched down to their level. "If you wanna steal something from someone, make sure it's something you can get away with." The three kids nodded their heads. "But for now," Adam pulled out some Lien and handed it to them. "Stay away from stealing and get yourself something that won't get you in trouble." Adam kindly smiled.
The three kids nodded their heads. "Thank you." They said before taking off. Adam stood back up and watch as the kids run off, his smile still on his face. "So there is a nice side to you." Adam's smile disappeared at the sound of the voice, turning around he was meet Weiss Schnee standing in front of him.
Adam lightly glared at the Schnee, "What're you doing here?"
"Nothing, I was just taking a nice walk through Vale. When I suddenly saw that man holding that boy. I was going to intervene when I saw that he was going to hit but someone else got to him before me." Weiss smiled at him. "It was kind of you to also give them money so don't steal anymore."
Adam turned eyes away. "They're kids. They don't deserve to be treated like that for wanting to survive in this world."
"You and I can agree on that."
Adam turned to walk away but was stopped by Weiss's question. "Would you like to grab a cup of coffee."
"What?" Adam questioned turning back around.
"There's a café shop just around the corner. Would you like to accompany me?" Weiss pointing into the direction of the shop. Adam actually gave the offer some thought. For one if he declined then he'll eventually have to go back to the warehouse, and he doesn't have the patience to put up with Roman at this moment. If he went along with the Schnee then he wouldn't have to go back but for a faunas like him, a leader of the White Fang traveling with a Schnee was just, wrong.
He let out a mental sigh, having made a decision. "Sure."
"Great, but first I have to buy somethings"
Adam let out an annoyed grunt, "Fine, but don't expect me to carry any of your damn things."
"Don't worry, you won't have to. Maybe." Weiss said with a smirk causing Adam to growl.
Black was pulled through the small crowds the filled the streets of Vale, much to his dislike in being crowded areas like this, he still let the redhead girl continue to pull him. After a little more walking they finally arrived at their destination. "We're here. This store here unites everyone on Remnant. A symbol of peace and harmony." It was a candy/bakery store. He gave the huntress a deadpan stare, which went unnoticed. "Come on," She dragged him.
Once inside, the smell of sweets hit the false Saiyan hard. He wasn't bothered by it to his surprise. "Okay, so this your first time in a sweet shop so let start with a basic." Like a bullet, she went to left to speak to the shopkeeper. After a couple of minutes, she came back with two bags of cookies. Black was handed one, he gave a look inside before looking back to the girl. "Isn't this the same thing as what you were eating back in the cafeteria?"
Ruby rested her fists on her hips and frowned. "No. What I was eating was vending machine cookies. These babies are straight from the oven. Warm and soft chocolate chip cookies." She grabbed one and took a bite. She hummed with such joy that it made the ex-kaioshin curious if these pastries were actually good as she claims it to be.
Grabbing one from the bag he held it to his mouth, with a bit of hesitation he took a bite. For a second, nothing happened. Then…an aura of hearts and flowers burst from him. His eyes were wide open from the blissful taste of the cookie. "It's…good. It's really good! The softness of it brings out such a delightful sensation to it, and the way the delicious chocolate chip bits melt in your mouth just brings you to absolute bliss." Black stuffed the rest of the cookie in his mouth, taking in the delicious taste of the cookie. His tail wagging happily in the back.
Ruby stopped eating her cookie and just stared at his wagging tail and the happy expression on his face. A light blush appeared on her cheeks. "Oh my Oum that's so cute."
Black he grabbed another cookie and another. Ruby let out a chuckle. "I take it that you like it."
"Yes." Black said, far too quickly as he was concentrated in savoring the taste of the cookies.
Ruby crossed her arms and let a smirk spread across her lips. "Well, those cookies aren't the only sweet thing around here." She turned and stretched her arm out, motioning to all the candy and pastries in the store. "This place is filled with lots of different flavors." She turned back to him. "Ready to taste each one of them?"
Black took a second to gaze at all the choices in the store. If they're just as delicious as she says they are then what does he have to lose. "Lead the way."
For the next 30 minutes, the two tried out different types of sweets and pastries. Each one brought the ex-kaioshin joy and had him craving for more. "Here this is dark chocolate with some mint inside." Black took the piece of chocolate and ate it. As expected, his body shook with pure delight. "Delicious." He took notice of some bright colored items. Upon grabbing one he felt that they were very squishy. Ruby saw what he was holding. "Oh, that's a gummy bear. They're pure sugar and really squishy, it's really popular among kids."
Black tossed one in his mouth, he chewed and tasted the candy. She was right, it tasted like pure sugar but that was it, nothing special about. Black stuck his tongue out letting the gummy bear fall to the floor. "Guess you don't like it, huh?"
Black shook his head, "No, I didn't."
As Ruby went to pay the store manager everything the two tasted, Black gave one last look around the store, not seeing anything else he hadn't tried yet.
Ruby came back with a small bag of dark chocolate almonds. "You ready for the next store?"
Black raised a brow. "Next store?"
"Yea. You didn't really think we were going to stop here now did you?" Ruby said with a cheeky grin.
"I just assumed that your craves for sweets would be satisfied with everything we've tried in this store." He says.
"Are you?" The two stared at one another. "…I guess not." With Black's answer, the two made their way out in search for more delicious sweets and pastries in the city. They visited store after store, tasting anything that they didn't think they tried yet. They were like children who were let loose to raid all the candy stores and bakery shops. Zipping from store to another, people wondered how they were able to eat so many sweets without getting sick. Little did they know one of them was used to eating a ton of sweets and the other had developed a very high metabolism.
Adam was beginning to feel a vain pop from the questions the Schnee kept asking him, "So what do you think, white doilies or blue doilies," She asked holding the two items out.
"White." He growled his answer out.
"Alright. Then what about—If you ask me another damn question, I swear I'm going to hurt you." Adam threatened.
Weiss scoffed at his threat. "Hey, I need second opinions on these choices, I have to plan a party that the four academies will be attending. Has anyone ever told you can be so impatient?" Adam let out a quiet growl. "Don't worry, I think I have everything I need for now." She waved him off and headed to buy the items she was holding. Adam went to wait by the exit ignoring all the people that walked out.
After some time, Weiss approached the faunas with all her items paid. "Wait, I think I forgot to buy something else." Weiss turned back, the bull faunas gritted his teeth and growling with annoyance. Weiss let out a chuckle before turning back around, "I'm only kidding. Come on, let's go get some coffee." Adam's eyes followed her before walking after her.
"You know, you should try to be less serious and smile a bit more. It would help you be more approachable. Weiss commented.
Adam stared at her with a strange look. "What?"
"Back in the store, I counted at least five girls all looking at you when you were waiting by the exit. They all looked hesitant on whether they should talk to you or not due to that scowling face of yours." Weiss pointed out.
"Why should I care whether girls approach me or not?" He questioned.
"You could use the companionship; it might help fix that attitude of yours." Weiss replied.
"Hmph." The bull faunas turned his head away, ending their conversation. Silence befell the two, something the leader of the white fang enjoyed rather hearing the heiress's exhausting voice. He wasn't sure why he accepted the invitation to the café or why he's was talking to her like she was some faunas.
"I know what my family has done can never be forgiven, but I will still do everything I can to change that, as a Huntress." Those words of declaration of hers still lingering in his head. He eyed the Schnee from the corner of his eyes. It looks as she's trying to start that goal of hers by trying to befriend him. Adam mentally chuckled, he did say that he wished her luck in her quest. He didn't think that her quest would start with him.
Weiss stretched her arm out, stopping him in his place and pushed him into an alley. "What is it?"
"Shh!" She quickly shushed him, earning herself a glare from the faunas. She peaked her head out the corner of the building. Not knowing what the reason she pushed him into hiding along with her, Adam leaned forward and took a look out the corner. His eyes scanned the streets, not being able to spot anyone suspicious, Adam moved his eyes to the Schnee. "Who are we hiding from?"
"Those two girls," Weiss pointed. Adam looked back out, this time lining his sight on where the Schnee's eyes were looking at. The result was two girls, one with long blond hair that kinda looks like, Raven? The other was a short orange hair girl which he recognized as Nora. "They're my friends and before you say anything, I'm not hiding you because I don't want them to see me hanging with a faunas, it's more that I don't want them seeing me hanging around with a boy, alone." Adam raised a brow. "Knowing Yang, she'll make this a big deal and tease me about it and with Nora around it'll be double the annoyance. That's something I rather avoid right now."
Adam looked back to the two teens heading their way. Yea, he would rather much avoid that misunderstanding too. He doesn't need that kind of attention on him. The pair leaned back into the ally and waited. They watched as the two girls walked past them.
After a couple of seconds Weiss poked her head out to make sure they were gone. "Okay, the coast is clear." The duo walked out the alley and resumed their way to their destination. After a short walk, they reached the coffee shop but upon entering they were stopped, "Hey, no faunas in the café." The manager yelled.
"What?" Weiss questioned, not believing what she just heard.
"You heard me. I'm not selling my coffee to that faunas. Now get out!" Adam scoffed at the man before leaving the café. Weiss watched her faunas companion leave before turning back with a frown.
Outside, Adam took in a breath before exhaling through his nose. Figures, he was bound run into someone like him again. Oh well, that just gives him an excuse to leave the Schnee and…where did she go?
The Schnee hadn't followed him out of the café. From the looks of it, she chose to stay behind. Oh well, guess he'll be on his way then. But before he could walk away the sound of the bell ringing from the café door opening stopped him in his tracks. "Hey, where do you think you're going?" Weiss said, Adam strangely stared at her as he was handed a cup of coffee. His eyes moved to the cup then to her. "I'm pretty sure he didn't want to sell you that for me."
"You're correct, he refused, but when I offered to purchase the cup for 100 lien, he had a change of heart." She replied with a smug smile. Adam squinted his eyes at her then to the cup again. As if knowing what he was thinking, Weiss said, "I can assure you that it's not poisoned. I made sure to keep an eye on everything he put into the cup." But even with her reassuring words, Adam kept a skeptical look on the cup.
Weiss let out a sigh, "Fine," She grabbed the cup from him and took a sip. Then stood there and stared at him. When nothing happened, she handed him the cup back, "For goodness sake, you can try to have some faith in my words." Weiss said before walking away.
"Hmph, have faith in a Schnee's words?" His comment caused her to turn back to him and say, "Have faith in my words." Before turning back around.
Adam took a sip from the cup before following her, "I'll try to." Adam said with a hint of sarcasm.
It was late in the afternoon when Gohan came back to what remained of Tenkawa. Flying down to one of the destroyed houses, his visor scanned the area once again. The visor still picking up the same readings as before. Letting out a tired sigh, he leaned on a wall and slid down to the floor, taking off his helmet and placing it on the ground next to him. He stared at the ground with a disappointing look. It's been three days, three days and he still found nothing on the Grimm Knight's whereabouts or…any of Tenkawa's people.
His fist-clenching, all those innocent people gone, because he wasn't here to protect them. As Gohan's eyes dropped to the floor, the sounds of screaming rang in his head, making him stare angrily at the ground.
He let out a deep sigh before looking up to the sky. If only he got there sooner. "…gohan, gohan are you there." A faint voice came from his helmet interrupting those memories. Reaching over he pressed a button on the side of his helmet, "Gohan, come in Gooooohan." The voice belonging to Penny made him smile.
"I'm here Penny." He answered.
"Gohan, I assumed you might've spaced out, so I began saying your name in a long funny away in order to break you out of your zoned state." Penny explained, bringing a chuckle out of him. "Anything on your side, Penny?"
"No, over the past 47hrs, 56minues, and 14 seconds into listening to Atlesian frequency, I wasn't able to uncover anything on the Grimm Knight's whereabouts since the attack in Tenkawa. Nor any possible findings of escaped…survivors." Penny informed, which made Gohan turn away in sorrow. "…I'm sorry Gohan."
"It's okay Penny, I know you tired." He said.
"Where are you?" She asked.
"I'm…I'm doing one more sweep around the village." Gohan answered.
"…Is everything okay, Gohan?" Penny asked, detecting the disturbance in his voice. He said nothing which prompted her to speak up again. "Gohan?"
"I failed these people, Penny. I was supposed to be here for them, and I wasn't, again." Images of people dying by the claws of the Grimm, and a flash of light rolled in his head.
"What happened to Tenkawa wasn't your fault, nor was Rinascita." Gohan stayed quiet. "You're going to find this man and stop him; I know you will. And I, Penny Polendina will do what any little sister would do, help their big brother."
Gohan smiled at Penny's words. They were simple but it was enough bring him up. "Has anyone ever told you that you have a way of cheering people up."
Penny giggling voice was heard, "Well I had a good teacher. Though I think I could improve a bit."
"No, you're doing just fine." Gohan stood back up, placing his helmet back on. "I'm going to finish up this last sweep then I'll head back to Vale."
"Okay, be careful Gohan."
"Will do." With that Gohan took off to the sky.
Back in the streets of Vale, Ruby and Black continued their walk across streets. Ruby taking a piece of her coffee cake she purchased from the last store they visited. The two had practically gone to every sweet store in Vale. She was surprised that the older serious teen had a sweet tooth that rivaled hers.
Sparing a glance, she could see him enjoying himself with the slice of carrot cake he bought himself. Upon looking up, she took notice of a bit of frosting by the corner of his lip. Licking her thumb, she reached over and wiped the frosting off. The action surprised the ex-kaioshin, his eyes moving to read head.
Ruby smiled at him innocently before returning to her slice of cake, as if what she did was normal. Black slightly averted his eyes away though he wasn't sure why he had too but something made him feel, embarrassed from the action.
They finished their slices of cake and stopped in front of the sweets store. Ruby brought up the map of Vale on her scroll, "Hm, I think this is the last sweets store in Vale." Placing her scroll away, she looked up to the older teen. "I think you should have the honors in choosing what type of sweets we'll be ending off today."
"Me?" Ruby nodded her head, "I'm not very knowledgeable with what's good or not."
"Nah, with what I've been showing you I'm sure you'll choose a good one." She began pushing him from behind, "Now, get in there and surprise me." Black looked over his shoulder before sighing and walking into the store.
Ruby remained outside, patiently waiting for him. She looked up at the sky and smiled. The time they spent with each other today was nice, granted that the only thing they did was go on a sweets frenzy. But it was still nice, especially when she got the chance to see his tail wag. That was adorable.
Ruby giggled, he was like a puppy who discovered the taste of human food for the first time. She wondered if there were other cute actions he could do. What if she could bring out a happy smile from him if she rubbed his belly. She chortled at the thought of that. Rubbing his belly, her hands roaming over his belly, his strong…abs. Her mind going back to the time when she walked in on him wearing only a towel. A blush creeping across her cheeks.
Realizing what she was thinking, Ruby screamed and furiously scratched her head, trying to rid herself of those thoughts. "Ruby! What're you thinking?! You never have thoughts like these!" Her shouting attracted attention. Looking up she noticed the many strange looks people were giving her, some of them speed walking away.
Using her hoodie, she hid her red face from everyone. Falling to the floor, she tried to make herself smaller. "Why'd you have to say that out loud. Now everyone thinks you're some weirdo." Her eyes widen when a thought came to her. "What if Black heard me from inside?" She groaned and hung her head down, wanting to disappear right now.
"Hey, you okay?" An unfamiliar voice asked. Raising her head, she was met with a new face. A guy with nicely combed brown hair, flawless white skin, and green eyes. Something that made him stand out from the rest where his expensive-looking fancy clothes. A blue button shirt tucked in a pair of black jeans with a white belt holding it up and black shoes. "So, are you going to just stare?"
Ruby quickly stood up and pull down her hoodie, "Oh sorry, you just surprised. Uh, yea, I'm okay. Just uh…remembered something important I forgot to do."
"Oh, yea, I get the feeling." The guy smiled, he held out his hand. "I'm Francis."
Taking his hand, "Ruby," She greeted. "You don't look like you're from around here." Ruby pointed out.
"Yea, I'm from Atlas, came here with some family to watch the Vytal Festival." Francis replied.
"Oh, I hear it's pretty cold over there."
Francis gave a shrug. "Eh, you get used to it. Say, my friends are headed to a club downtown, I was wondering if you if would like to join us." Ruby brows rose, out of all the people in Vale, this guy is asking her to join him and friends to a club. "Why me?"
"Well, I assume that a huntress from Beacon Academy can be fun to hang around with." He answered with a smirk.
"How di—Huntsmen and Huntress tend to dress in a way that makes them stand out from the rest." He had a point there. I mean how many people do you see someone else wearing a red cloak in the streets. "Plus you are a little weird—which is a good thing. Normal people tend to be boring." This earned him an awkward laugh from her. "So what do you say?"
"Thanks, but, you see, I'm with someone already and I'm just waiting for him to come back out from the store." Ruby explained, with an apologetic look.
"Oh. His name is Black, right?" He asked.
Blinking with surprise, Ruby questioned him, "How do you his name?"
His face turned into a frown, "Well, you see, I was in the store not that long ago, I saw you two from inside and when he entered the store he got a call on his scroll. Not sure who or what he was talking about, but he ended up leaving through the back door." He pointed back with his thumb.
The news shocked Ruby. Did Black really just leave her? Maybe the call he got was important that he had to leave in a hurry, but wouldn't he have told her? I mean, they were having a great time today, he…he wouldn't just leave her like this, right?
A sad look came across the huntress's face. Francis sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry, you had to hear that. But I couldn't leave a cute girl like you to be ditched by a jerk like him. That's why I came out here to invite you to hang with my friends."
While her mind was still conflicted with what he told her, her heart, she assumed was telling something else. Telling her that he was still in there and this guy was lying. After a short moment, Ruby chose what to listen to. "I-I'm sorry, but Black isn't the type of guy to just leave without saying something, I mean he'll be blunt with his excuse but never without saying. So, sorry, I just don't believe you." Ruby apologized and was about to walk away till a couple of people began calling Francis.
"Yo, Francis what's the hold up! We're missing the party!" A guy shouted.
"Yea, come on." This time a girl shouted. The others shouting similar things to the guy which made him turn back to Ruby with a sigh. "Okay, look the truth is, I kinda made a bet with my friends over there that I could a huntress to join our little party."
"What?" Ruby said with disbelief.
"Look it's only for like a couple of hours, after that you can go back to your boyfriend." He tried explaining.
The mention of Black being her boyfriend caused the redhead to become really flustered. "B-Boyfriend! He-he isn—hey wait." Ruby's words were ignored as the guy wrapped an arm around her shoulders and began pulling her towards his friends. "It'll be fun, trust me." His grip around her shoulder tightened. Ruby wasn't sure what to do. Should she use her strength to push him away? But what if she uses too much and hurts him, she can't sense any Aura from him. Unable to decide what to do, Ruby let the guy pull her.
But before they could get any further, an arm wrapped around her waist and a hand reached over and shoved Francis away, almost causing him to fall forwards. "Sorry, but…" The arm wrapped around her waist pulled her closer, "She's with me." The person who helped her escape Francis's hold was none other than Black. He held her by his side which causes a warm feeling to rise to her cheeks.
Francis turned around, this time wearing an annoyed expression. His friends all seeing what happen, walked up to him. "Yo, what's the big deal!"
"Yea, the hell you are shoving our friend for, freak!" Another shouted. Black ignored each one of them as his eyes remained focused on Francis. Francis fixed himself and glared at the newcomer, "You know, I hate when someone touches me like that. Normally, I'll just leave people like you with a punch in the face, but since it was a rodent that touched me." His friends began approaching them while he pulled his sleeves back. "I think I'm going to have to do more tha-." His words were cut off as his friends were all stopped by the frightening cold glare Black was staring at them with. It was one that promised not just pain but Death.
Francis's body trembled with fear, taking a step back, his friends doing the same. Black then took a couple of steps forward, causing them to step back again. "Leave…before I make you leave, permanently." He said with a cold tone. His threat was the last straw as the group of guys and girls all ran for their lives, along with Francis.
Some of the people that stood by all looked in amazement that this one teen made a group of guys run for the hills.
After seeing them all run, Black turned towards Ruby, who gave a weak smile. "Thanks for helping me."
Crossing his arms, "I do hope you realize that the training I've been giving you isn't only to be used on the Grimm or the villains of this world. But to help you get out of situations like that."
Ruby rubbed her arm while looking away with some shame. "I know, I just, I don't know, felt like I could've really hurt him if I did something."
Black sighed, "It's fine, you were being cautious of your own strength which isn't bad. But next time try to be less cautious."
Ruby smiled and nodded. "I will."
"Oh, here," With his tail, he raised a canister, Ruby immediately recognized what he was holding, "You got waffle sticks! In chocolate flavor!" Her usual cheery attitude returning.
"I did, they looked quite good."
"I'm impressed, it's a really great choice you made." Ruby says, taking hold of the canister.
"Well, I had an interesting teacher to teach me." His words bringing a bright smile from her. Opening it up she passed him one waffle stick and grabbed another for herself. She moaned with delight, "They're so good." She commented.
"They are indeed." Black agreeing as he took a bite. His tail wagging from the delicious taste.
Ruby turned to him as they walked. "Say, what did you say to those guys that made them run away?" She asks, having not been able to hear what he said.
Black took a moment to contemplate his answer. "…I told them if they didn't leave, I would hurt them badly."
With a raised brow and a sly smile, she questioned him, "Were you actually going to?"
Black looked down at her with a smirk, "Guess we'll never know." Ruby returned the smirk before returning back to her waffle stick. In truth, when he saw the guy pulling Ruby away and the troubled look in her faces, he felt an enormous amount of killing intent rise within him. It took every fiber of his body to stop himself from ripping the guy apart. He wasn't sure why he felt like that, but strangely enough, when he held Ruby next to him that killing intent seemed to vanish a bit. Black's eyes glanced at the redhead. Just what kind of hold does she have on him?
A muffled scream was heard within a small room, followed by a thump on the floor. The door to the room opened, walking out was Neo cleaning the bloodstain off her blade. Taking a look around, she made sure that she was alone before approaching another door. Walking inside she was greeted with the CCT's mainframe. Walking between the aisles of the mainframes until she reached the one she was looking for. Taking out a small device from her pocket, she connected it to the mainframe and let it do the rest. It didn't take long before the copying was complete.
She's gotta admit, whoever Cinder's associate is, knows his tech. Grabbing the device and placing it back in her pocket, she made her way back to the elevator. Honestly, aside from killing the three guards down here, this was a boring mission, way too easy. Either she's gotten way too good at infiltrating or the CCTs security is worse than she thought.
She gave a glance to the small room that she hid the bodies. Eh, Cinder's plan should be done by the time they find the bodies.
As Neo entered the elevator, she used semblance to changed her clothes and disguised herself as a CCT secretary. When the doors slid back open this time in the lobby, Neo casually walked out, giving smiles to some of the people that passed by her. To her far left she saw Emerald using her scroll but was keeping an eye out, and Mercury chatting with some girl over to her right.
Guess she'll leave them here; she doesn't exactly need to tell them that's it's done. Leaving the tower with a smirk.
Back with Black and Ruby, the two were found walking through the halls while enjoying the rest of their chocolate waffle sticks. The light of the moon illuminating the halls. Ruby talked to Black about some of 'adventures' she and her friends from Signal academy would go on, as well as the trouble she, Yang, and their uncle would get themselves into.
Black listened to everything she was telling him or at least tried to. His mind kept going back to what happened in the city, more specifically the killing intent that rose within him. He wasn't unfamiliar with the feeling as he had felt it before on many occasions in that past, but the sudden urge to kill that human for touching Ruby was, peculiar. "Hm," his face turning to a frown. Ruby took notice of this. "You okay?"
Lifting his eyes up, he turned his head to her. "Yea, just…"
Ruby smirked, "You reach your limit?" His eyes showing his confusion to her question. "Of how much sweets you can eat." She answered, "It's starting to hurt your stomach isn't it?"
"No, I was just…scolding myself for not trying these sweets much sooner." He lied. Ruby stared at him with an unconvinced look. Most people would probably break or show signs of them hiding something but Black being, well him, wasn't affected by it. Ruby's face turned into a smile, "Yea can't blame you for that. But now that you have, are you going to eat more sweets?"
"Of course, but maybe not as daily as you do." He said.
His comment made the redhead awkwardly laugh with a faint blush. "What can I say, I love sweets."
"I suggest you tone it down bit then, otherwise you'll get fat." Ruby's face turning red with slight anger and embarrassment. "H-Hey!" Black chuckled at her reaction. "Relax, I was merely joking with you."
Ruby looked away with a pout but then it turned into a smile. "Ya know, I think this the first time I've heard you make a joke, even though it was kinda mean." She said, grabbing another waffle stick and placing it in her mouth.
"I like to let loose once in a while." He replied.
Ruby smiled with the waffle stick still in her mouth, "Maybe you should let loose more often so that I can see that cute tail of yours wag again." Black's eyes widen with surprise. It took Ruby only a moment to realize what she just said. Her face immediately turning bright red. She held her hands in front of her as she yelled. "I mean your tail isn't cute when it wags! No, I mean it is cute! Not just your tail I mean you were cute, no wait, I mean…" She desperately tried to fix her wording but just couldn't. After a couple more attempts, she gave up. Ruby hung her head down, unable to look up at him. A moment of silence befell them, "…I didn't think you saw." He finally said.
Hesitantly, the scythe user raised eyes. "Y-You're not mad?"
"No, I'm not. Only surprised since this the first time someone called me, cute." He replied, his words easing her worries a bit. It was true, he's been called many things, cute, was indeed something new.
"I-Is that bad?" She questioned, still a bit unsure.
Black gave it some thought. When she called him that, he felt that same feeling rise only this time warmer than before, it was nice. "…No, I don't think it is." He answered, causing Ruby to sigh in relief. Black gave a light chuckle at this.
As the two arrived at their dorms, Ruby turned to the older teen. "Well, this is it. I really had a nice time, even though all we did eat sweets, but it was fun, right?"
"It was, but I do hope the next time you drag me out the school, it isn't to go on a candy eating spree." He joked again.
Ruby giggled, "No, promises." Black let a very small smile form on his lips. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye."
Black nodding his head, entering his dorm. Ruby did so as well when she walked in she was met with Weiss who had some cups, plates and a couple of small decorations spread across the floor. "Hey Weiss."
"Ruby, where've you been? I was looking all over for you." Weiss said, with her hand on her hips. Ruby scratched the back of her head and gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I was out with Black all afternoon."
"With Black?" She questioned, her arms moving to crossover.
"Yea, we went on an eating spree." Ruby answered with a proud grin.
"Eating spree?" Weiss sounded out.
"Of sweets." Ruby elaborated.
"Of course," Weiss facepalm. Ruby walked up to her partner and looked down at the items laying across the floor. "So whatcha doing?"
"I'm trying to decide what I'm going to use to set up the party before I make an order to send the rest." Weiss explained, grabbing two different colors of plates. "That reminds me." Her attention returning to the redhead. "Have you asked Black to the dance yet?"
Ruby blinked a couple of times, "AHHHHHHHH!" Grabbing her head. The Beacon Dance! How could she forget!? She was supposed to ask Black to go with her!
Weiss took Ruby's act of distress as a no. With a deep sigh turned back to her assignment, "You're hopeless." Falling onto her back, Ruby laid there with a defeated look. "Don't worry, you still have three days left. You'll get another chance." Weiss reassured.
She didn't get another chance…
And done! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I'm not the very best when it comes to romance scenes or short moments but I do try my best so they don't sound too corny or forced.
Anyways, for those who are waiting for the new chapter Balancers of Mortals, it should be up a week after Valentine's Day as well as Black Roses.
Don't really got much to say this time so I'll see you all next time, PEACE!