I am sorry for the late update. Work had been crazy and my motivation to write was at a low. I also had gone back to binge volumes 1-6 to help get me back in the mood. I'll also re-watch volume seven to see the Atlas side of things and try to add that this section as well. So thank you for keeping this story on alert and leave a review!
New Divide
Every carpet, every floor. Everywhere I look, I fall.
Climbing up the walls, I'm climbing up the walls.
What goes on behind these doors, I'll keep mine and you'll keep yours.
We all have our secrets
-'No one is here to sleep' Naughty Boy
We are taught that heroes save those in need. However the one thing that is never talked about is when they experience tragedy, who will come to save them? Ruby had no one to turn to by the time everything had come to head. It was incredibly devastating.
There was no time to dwell on that though. When Ruby had pulled herself together, she had ordered them to get cleaned up and packed so that they could meet Qrow at his own lodgings. Seeing that the question and answer session was over for the time being and how quiet Ruby had become, they opted to not argue with the reaper. Jaune motioned for his team to leave, and they started to pile out of the room. He paused by the door and watched as Ruby moved throughout the room. He met the sad gazes of her team and sighed, "Ruby?"
Ruby paused in her packing, but did not fully acknowledge him. He watched her stiffen as he opened his mouth once, no sound came out. He turned back towards the door and sighed again, only to say, "We'll meet you at the desk." Ruby winced as the door gently shut behind him.
She let out a breath and continued packing. Yang was watching her sister closely, "Ruby-"
"Gather your things." Ruby said sternly, but her tone was that of tiredness. She may have forced herself together after her moment of weakness, but the emotions were still raw.
Yang shook her head and went behind her sister and wrapped her arms around her younger…older…Yang didn't know at the moment nor did she care. She just gave her sister the hug, the contact that she knew Ruby needed. She felt her sister stiffen before letting out a sigh and relaxed her body against her. Ruby turned and through her arms around Yang, allowing the hug.
Blake and Weiss stood there watching. Blake had her arms crossed, a sad smile on her face. Weiss whipped her eye, wearing a sad smile as well, "Blake? Weiss?" Ruby called out softly. They looked towards the sisters and saw their arms open as a sign of invite.
"Well? Come on." Yang stated, smiling lightly.
They looked at each other and went to their arms. They felt Ruby's form shaking, "Its ok." Weiss muttered, "It'll be ok."
"We got you." Blake said.
"We love you. No matter what." Yang added.
Ruby nodded vigorously before pulling away. She took a deep breath, "Yea. Ok. Let's just get to packing." The three exchanged looks, but listened. They packed up their belongings and went down to the desk to wait for JNPR and Oscar.
-Snoopykid-
"I feel like a jerk." Jaune said as he placed his sack on his bed.
"It's not something we really expected either." Ren commented.
Pyrrha looked at her friends and then at her hands clasped across her lap, "I didn't allow her really to explain the rest of the story. I mean it was a shock to hear of my own demise."
"I don't want to think about that." Jaune said, "It's not going to happen. We will not let that happen."
Nora stood up and went over to sit by Ren, "What…what if we have no choice?"
"What?" Jaune asked looking at her stunned.
"We told Ruby that she cannot protect us. It's the profession we chose." Nora said gently looking at Pyrrha.
Jaune moved away from his pack and ran his hands through his hair, "It doesn't matter. Ruby knows what is happening. She knows the enemy. We can change things. We just have to-"
"Hide me away? Keep me away from the action. I'm sorry Jaune that is not happening." Pyrrha said cutting him off, "I am a huntress. I have a responsibility to try to do what is right, and no one is going to keep me from doing that. Not even you." She finished sternly.
Jaune sighed deeply, "With all due respect," this time they looked towards Ren who spoke in his calm tone, "as she explained, Ruby doesn't exactly know what is happening anymore. Yes she has some ideas…some inclination of what is supposed to happen, but with the changes she's made and the way she has made it sound, the timeline has effectively changed. Perhaps beyond her control at this point. So really who knows what is or is not going to happen."
"Which is why I cannot stand idle under the umbrella of 'what ifs'." Pyrrha said looking back at Jaune, "I won't do it. Not for anyone."
Jaune looked at his teammates and then looked at Ren and Nora, "Can we have a minute?" He asked.
Ren and Nora looked at one another and nodded. They gathered their bags, "We'll meet you at the lobby." Nora said. Together they left the room.
"Jaune-" Pyrrha started to say. She was cut off when she felt his hands on her shoulders. He wasn't looking at her directly, but she could see the hurt in his eyes.
"From what I gathered, I apparently lost a lot of time. I was blinded and stupid. I don't want to make the same mistakes that I did." Jaune began, "And I guess thanks to Ruby I didn't…so far. However from what she had said, making the mistake of letting you go was huge. I don't-"
"You can't condemn yourself for something that not only did not happen this time, but I forced you to let me go. Jaune," she moved his head so that he was looking at her, "let's not do this."
"But I almost lost you. Tyrian's stinger. You saved me. If something happened-"
"If. When. Conjunctions that do not matter. What matters is now. Right here. In this moment. Jaune we are hunters. It is our job, our duty, our responsibility to the people. I may die, or you may die. It's the job. It's the sad part of the job, but it is the consequence of the profession. Would you want me to stop you?"
Jaune looked away again, unable to meet her gaze, "No, but-"
"Then do not stop me from doing mine. I am your partner. Your friend. I will always be with you. No matter what happens." Pyrrha said gently and softly, she made him look at her once more, "So please. Stop trying to focus of the 'ifs' and 'when's'. We'll have a plan. We'll do our best to follow the plan and make sure we all come back to one another safely."
Jaune still didn't look happy. Pyrrha frowned and then leaned forward. Jaune's eyes widened in shock as he felt her lips on his cheek. His face reddened as he turned to her, stunned. She just offered him a small smile before gathering her bag, "I'll see you in the lobby."
He just stood there watching her go, his hand slowly going to his cheek where her lips had been. Ok, he thought taking a deep breath, this is the last time I am letting her go. He gathered his belongings and went to the lobby.
-Snoopykid-
Qrow stormed down the hallway towards the headmaster's office of Haven Academy. It was different than the last time he was here just before the fall of Beacon. Some students wandered the hallways, there were a few teachers as well. No one, however, batted an eye at him. Which he found surprising. Then again no one really knew that the people responsible for the terror attack on Beacon had hidden themselves among students. That or his luck had turned around…
He came to the headmaster's office. The door was open, but Lionheart wasn't there…it was a young woman with black hair and green eyes. She was wearing a blue blouse with black pants and knee high boots. Her expression was one of being startled since he had come into the room, "Hello. I'm looking for Leo Lionheart."
She composed herself and smiled politely at him while holding up a finger. He watched as she pulled out her scroll and typed a quick message. She then held it up for him and tapped a button, he heard the message, "I'm sorry sir, but Professor Lionheart is still out on his mission. Is there something I may help you with?"
So much for his change in luck. He groaned in frustration and pulled out his flask, "Sir, I'm sorry but there is no alcohol allowed on school grounds."
He glares at her, and she glares pointedly back. The staring match lasts for another minute before he gives in, "Fine. Do you know when he'll be back?" He stuffs the flask back into his jacket before stuffing his hands into his pockets.
The woman thinks for a moment and replies, "Should be next week. Shall I leave a message for him?"
"Yea. Tell him Qrow was here. I'll be staying in the area and want to talk to him…alone…face to face." He turns and leaves.
The young woman snorts as she writes down the note on the desk, "Qrow Branwen in Mistral." She turns and see a red orb coming towards her out of the headmaster's closet. It's black tentacle like arms creeping across the floor. It sends shivers up her spine as she hears Cinder's voice coming through, "This is interesting Neo."
The woman's image shimmers briefly and Neo is back in her normal outfit. Brown, white, and pink hair exposed with her dichromatic eyes. She leans over the desk to pull out a satchel and takes out Roman's hat, and places it on her head, "Want me to follow him?" She motions.
"I think it would be in our interest to yes. Tyrian and Watts went to Atlas already as Watts's job in Mistral has been completed. The rest of us will be there shortly. Do you have what we need in case things get…messy?"
Neo nodded and motioned to the satchel, then she motioned in a questioning manner, "Lionheart?"
"On his way back. So you didn't completely lead Branwen astray."
Neo nodded and watched as the Grimm creature went back to its hiding spot. She shivers once more and changes her appearance. Making her way out of the office as she removes the hat from her head, giving it a soft look. Not the first time she has questioned her choice she made joining up with Cinder. However if it means getting to Ruby Rose, then it was fine…for now…Cinder will come later. With that she closed the double doors and made her way out of the school.
-Snoopykid-
They were outside, making their way to Qrow's lodging. Oscar was walking behind the group, his hand reaching to his side as if looking for a familiar source of comfort that he knew wasn't there at the moment, "I know. It's not there right now, but once we get to Qrow it will be soon."
"The cane?"
"Yes. As you know it has been with me for a long time." Ozpin said. Oscar could hear the nostalgic tone ringing in his head.
He was so lost in the conversation and his own thoughts that he nearly bumped into Ren as the group came to an abrupt halt along the trail leading up to the house, "What's up Rubes?" Yang asked looking at her sister.
Ruby's back was turned towards them. She had been quiet since giving the word they were ready to move out. Even gathering more ammunition for their weapons, she really only spoke if someone was asking her opinion. She had been in deep thought about what was to come. This was the turning point. The point of no return. She took a deep breath and faced her friends, "This is it. From here on out there is no going back. After everything you've learned, the struggle that is going to be."
They were silent, just watching her. She sighed again. Thinking back on it, there were times (even though it was never said out loud) that they wished they never gone on this mission. She could see it during the darker times. Hell, she had wished she had gone on her own, never contacting Jaune, Nora, and Ren in the first place. So now that they were half way up the trail to Qrow's lodging area, she was going to give them a choice. One that she hoped that they'd take. Running a hand through her hair she says, "I am giving you a choice. Oscar this goes for you as well."
The young former farmhand eyes met the burning stare of silver, "Very interesting."
"You know what she is going to say."
"Of course. Although forgive me for saying, but your fate and her own are aligned."
He looks at the ground, "Of course."
Ruby sees his gaze, her eyes narrow further as if she could hear their conversation, "Do not listen to him Oscar. You are your own person." They looked back at him and he felt all their eyes upon him. He stood tall and swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the uncertainty that formed in his throat.
"Ruby?" Yang called out, now drawing their attention back on their leader, "If you are trying to tell us to leave-"
"That isn't going to happen." Weiss states firmly, "At least I will not leave you."
"Neither will I;" Blake says gently, "I think we understand the dangers well enough."
JNPR nods along, "Despite your story and saying how bad this will get, we will try our best to help you make sure that doesn't happen." Jaune said coming forward, "And I am sorry for my reaction."
"Your anger was more than justified." Ruby says softly, "I just want to make sure you all had a better future this time around. So I am giving you the same choice I gave you back in the woods. You all are free to leave at any time. There is no shame in wanting to turn back." She looks at Oscar more closely, "Oz I know you are listening as well. Please do not force him to do this. Let him make his own choice in this matter."
Oscar falters in his stance as he looks to Ruby. He hears a heavy sigh in his head, "I know I made you leave your way of life. I know I am asking a lot of you, however she is right, the choice is yours."
"There really isn't much of a choice though." He says in response to the both of them, "People will get hurt."
"A lot of people will get hurt yes." Ruby confirms back, "But-"
"But nothing. There is something that I read once, that there is a dark place in hell that is reserved for people who maintain their neutrality in a time of moral crisis…these are one of the those times. I shall not remain neutral…I know I am not much of a fighter now, but I am willing to learn…if you'll have me." He says boldly.
"If cute farm-boy Ozpin wants to do this, then I do too! Besides I would really love to break some legs that caused our futures to be destroyed!" Nora says as she brings Magnhild forward a bit too eagerly.
Ren sighs, but there was a smile on his face to show he wasn't really that exasperated, "Of course we still want to do this. We already had a talk this morning after you dismissed us."
Ruby looks at them in turn and nods, "Ok, and too my other deal still stands as well." Again they exchanged looks and Yang flicks Ruby in the middle of her forehead, "Ow! Sis what was-?"
"I can flick your forehead a lot harder than that so just listen closely one more time. We are fine ok? I think I speak for all of us when we say that we believe you now." They all nod, "We are not leaving you. Yes it will take a bit of time to fully come to terms with things, just like you have to readjust to relying on us. But one thing at a time ok? So let's keep walking and meet up with Qrow so we can come up with a plan."
Before Ruby could acknowledge this, a new voice came to the mix, "You know discussing a plan in the middle of a well-traveled path is not a good idea right?" The tone was a familiar drawl and they looked to see a man with raven black hair, red eyes, and a large sword attached to his back. In his hand he held a flask and was wearing a lazy smirk.
"Qrow!" Ruby and Yang both exclaimed in relief.
He looked at the group and nodded in greeting before settling his eyes on Oscar, "I take it you are Oscar Pine?"
"I am sir." He responded with uncertainty. Ruby goes over to him and nudges him towards her uncle.
"Ask him." He hears Ozpin say.
Qrow cocks his eyebrow in question and looks between the boy and to his niece, "Uhm…do you happen to have my cane?" Oscar braves asking.
Qrow snorts and makes a toasting motion with his flask before taking a swig. He places his flask back into his coat pocket, and there is a sound of something being unclipped from his belt. Pulling it out, the teams' eyes widen as they see the familiar cane, "You mean this one? I've spent a long time in this country trying to find you and give this to you." He hands the cane to Oscar.
As he holds the cane in his hands, a familiar comfort comes over him, almost like holding the hand of a long lost friend, "Thank you." He says gratefully on behalf of himself and of Ozpin.
"Now then…shall we continue the conversation about the fate of humanity as we know it in a more…secure area?" Qrow asks as he moves forwards. Ruby shakes her head and motions them to follow her, a new plan forming in her mind.
