Chapter 2: New Beginnings
A week had passed since the mute amnesiac had joined the team. Considering team RWBY's history with her, that went about as well as expected, however, Ruby had never been one to give up so easily. Neo's injuries were still healing from what happened, with Weiss and Yang doing most of the work taking care of her. Much to both of their chagrins.
"This sucks! Why are the two of us the ones stuck doing most of the work?" Yang snapped, trying to do her best to get Neo into a chance of clothes without aggravating her injuries.
Neo cocked her head, confused. She had no memory of hurting anyone. So, due to this, she couldn't understand the blonde's ire at having to take care of her.
"Yang, come on. Someone has to do that stuff." Ruby answered.
"That's not what I'm talking about, Rubes! Why are Weiss and I the ones stuck doing most of this stuff?" Yang responded in exasperation.
"You helped Dad take care of me, so I figured you know more about taking care of someone younger than yourself. I did it cause I know you have experience. And Weiss is also an older sibling as well." Ruby explained.
"She's even younger than you are!" Weiss responded, trying to help Yang fit Neo into her clothes as gently as possible.
Neo winces as her jeans snag a nail.
"That should make it easier then." Ruby replied.
Yang and Weiss both sighed, knowing that this argument would not be won by them today. Ruby would not be listening to them and would just continue arguing back. For now, it would be best to just go along with it and stop distracting themselves.
Just then, as if to emphasize the point, neo started crying, hungry.
"Aren't we going to feed her?" Ruby asked
"Fine. Let's get her down to the dining hall for breakfast after Yang and I finish dressing her…" Weiss responded irritably.
Neo makes happy mute noises.
"I'll go see if we can find a spot for her." Weiss says, walking out of the room
"Aren't we going to take Neo?" Ruby asked
"You can push her this time, Rubes." Yang replied, following the Schnee.
Ruby sighed and helped Neo into her wheelchair with assistance from Blake. Ruby then went behind the wheelchair and began to push Neo.
"Can't believe Ozpin had to put us up to making sure she gets better. Can't they put her in the infirmary?" Weiss muttered bitterly.
"I know, right? Why do we have to be the ones to take care of the girl who tried to kill me…?" Yang muttered back, equally as bitter if not more so.
"She's a waste of space in our room, honestly." Blake chipped in.
"Hey! Stop being mean! She can't help that she lost her memories and got hurt!" Ruby yelled.
Feeling guilty, Neo sighs, thinking, 'I'm not a burden… am I? I mean, I know I haven't been able to help much, but what could i do?' Struggling with these thoughts, she comes to a realization, 'none of them are asked to be saddled with me, a crippled, useless waste of space…' Neo starts to tear up.
"Oh for pity's sake, she's crying again? Who broke her water valve?" Weiss asked in frustration.
Feeling even worse, Neo thinks to herself, 'I can't do anything for myself!' Neo tries to move her legs, but this proves a titanic task, 'Move, you stupid piece of shit! Nobody will ever love you if you can't even do something as basic as that! You're a real piece of shit, you know that right? But at least I know I'm a piece of shit, so that makes me better than all the other pieces of shit that don't realize they are pieces of shit. Or is that worse?' With that, Neo forces herself through the pain and stands up on infirm legs. ' dont complain about the pain, you deserve to suffer after all the shit you put them througg, you stupid piece of shit!'
"Neo, what's going on?" Ruby asked, noticing something up with Neo
"What's she doing?" Yang also asked, looking back.
"What is it now?" Weiss muttered in annoyance.
"For once we are in agreement, Weiss." Blake said in agreement.
Ignoring the excruciating pain to the best of her abilities, neo puts one infirm leg in front of the other, before collapsing on the ground, breaking her nose, 'look what you did, you stupid piece of shit! You cant even get this right!' With that, neo starts crying.
"Neo what's wrong? Why did you do that?" Ruby asked, coming over to help her.
Crying, neo types, ' was trying to be less of a burden…'
"Burden? Why would you think you're a burden, Neo?" Ruby asked confused.
Neo sighs a deep shuddering sigh, typing, 'its obvious everyone hates me, and honestly, i cant blame them, they didnt ask to be saddled with a stupid, crippled, useless piece of shit…'
"Don't you ever call yourself that again Neo! You couldn't control what happened to you, and no one else could have. And no matter what happens I'm not giving up on you. I gave my word to Ozpin that we would make sure you get better, and we are going to do that, or die trying." Ruby explained, before shooting a glare at her teammates.
Neo sighs, tears in her eyes, typing, 'But none of you wanted this! Why wont you just let me die!?' Neo sobs hiccupping sobs.
In that moment Ruby gives Neo a firm, but restrained slap across the face.
"Don't think like that. No one deserves death Neo. You should be able to live your life as you wish. Just cause you can't control what happened doesn't mean you should give up now." Ruby explained.
Shocked by the sudden act of violence and Ruby's kind words, Neo embraces Ruby in a hug and cries deeply into her shoulder.
At this moment, Yang feels a bit bad. She and Weiss caused this and she knows it.
After this, no major incidents occured over the following couple of days. To an outside observer, it would appear odd how things calmed and settled so quickly. To Team RWBY, however, it was the formation of a routine. With some minor 'rebalancing' of duties, the team began to do all their required tasks with Neo like a well oiled machine. It was beginning to be like second nature.
However as this began to drag on, a small change began to set in with Neo. Every day to her began to blur together. Soon, it felt like nothing was happening. She began to fidget and move about restlessly in her beddings and wheelchair at any given part of the day. She looked like she had pent up energy with no outlet at all. Finally one day after classes, Ruby noticed this, and decided to ask what, if anything, was wrong.
"Neo, are you okay? You've been fidgeting around alot." Ruby asked as politely as she could.
Neo, looking a bit guilty for even mentioning her lack of contemptment, nervously types, 'I'm bored, I got all this pent up energy and nothing to do with it…. Everyday it's the exact same routine, with ZERO deviation!' Neo sighs, giving Ruby an apologetic look that tells her she feels likeshit for even bringing it up.
"I'm sorry Neo… I didn't realize that we were putting you through that…" Ruby said, feeling guilty for that.
"She should be grateful we're taking care of her after what she did…" Yang grumbled.
"Not helping Yang!" Ruby said through gritted teeth.
Neo fidgets nervously, the tension being palpable.
"I think I have a way to fix this, Neo. Want to come and sit in on our classes?" Ruby asked.
Neo pouts, not the biggest fan of boring lectures.
"Or you can sit around in the dorms doing nothing if you prefer…" Ruby trailed off before a reaction from Neo cut her off.
Neo began to panic, frantically typing, 'No, please! Anything but that! Yang always leaves the remote just out of reach, its torture!'
"Alright. Tomorrow you're getting ready like normal and you're coming with us!" Ruby said triumphantly, putting her arms on her sides and puffing her chest out a bit.
Neo crosses her arms and pouts, knowing she's been beat.
"Oh don't look so glum. It's better than being bored in here." Ruby said with a smile.
The next day, however, Neo wished she stayed in the dorm. At least she had Zwei to keep her company. Or take a nap. Or anything else other than sitting in the same room as Professor Port, a man with the level of charisma and speaking ability as watching paint dry. The questionable conduct of flirting with underage female students didn't help either. For Neo, it was a war in her mind between the bliss of sleep, and the authoritarian jackboot of consciousness. She practically sent herself to Nirvana when she heard the lunch bell.
"How has he not been put in jail yet?" Weiss asked as a general question.
"Search me." Blake answered.
"Careful saying that around here. He might take you up on that." Weiss warned as they filed out of the room.
Weisses words put a horrifying mental picture in Neo's mind that made her shudder.
As they all thankfully filed out of the lecture hall, they swiftly made their way to the lunchroom. Like everyday it was packed to the gills with their peers eating franctly a ludicrous amount of food. Weiss wheeled Neo over to an open table as the other three went to get food. The white haired heiress staying behind to keep Neo company as they wait.
Neo sighs, deciding to break the silence with a dark joke, 'He does realize im 13, right?' Neo types.
"The sad part is, I don't think he cares." Weiss answered, playing along with the joke.
Neo winces at that, typing, 'I'm honestly impressed he's allowed to work here considering he probably isn't allowed within half a mile of any schools.'
"I blame the teachers union." Weiss chipped in.
Neo chuckles, typing, 'Even they wouldn't want him, wouldn't he just give them a bad name? I'm sure they dont want that kinda negative press.'
"Well I guess some always slip through the cracks. If he tries anything with me, he's got a blade through the chest waiting for him." Weiss said as she sipped a bit of water.
Neo chuckles sadly, typing, 'Unfortunately for me, I dont think I'd have the luxury of being able to defend myself in my shape.'
"If he tries anything against you, he will have us 4 to answer to." Weiss said sternly
Neo grins smugly, typing, 'So you do care about me? Could've fooled me!' Neo playfully jabbed at Weiss.
"No one, and I mean no one, deserves to have that happen to them. Don't joke about that." Weiss answered sternly.
Neo's smug grin begins to disappear, typing, 'Well that got serious quick…' Neo chuckles uncomfortably.
"It couldn't be helped, considering the subject matter." Weiss replied equally as uncomfortably.
Neo sighs sadly, typing, 'well, in my defense, I'm not exactly great with people, I just always feel so alone….. Like nobody would miss me if I died, and frankly, that's depressing…'
Weiss was surprised by this. Neo felt alone? That was actually something she could relate to.
"I… kind of understand where you're coming from. I didn't exactly have an… ideal upbringing despite being an heiress." Weiss replied awkwardly.
Neo chuckled awkwardly, typing, 'Well, from what little I remember, my upbringing wasn't exactly sunshine and roses either. Father died in an SDC dust mine collapse and my mother took her own life when I was five….'
"I'm sorry, Neo…" Weiss said, unsure exactly what to say after such a hard hitting revelation.
Neo sighs, typing, 'It's ok… well, not ok, but I'm not mad… I was too young to understand what had happened, apparently my mother took her life though, because she was in debt and the SDC refused to pay out on my fathers life insurance, they gave some standard corporate excuse of, blaming him for his death…'
"Neo, I'm sorry that my father and his company did that to your family… I know that's not much but… My father isn't exactly the most open of people in the world…" Weiss said between breaths, unsure with each word being said.
Neo sighs, typing, 'After my mom passed, I was homeless for a while… had to resort to petty thievery to survive, and as if that wasn't bad enough, to add insult to injury, I was arrested several times thanks to that, so on top of being homeless and an orphan, by the time i was 8, I had an extensive criminal record….'
"Is there anything I can do to help you Neo?" Weiss asked, still unsure of exactly what to say with everything that has been revealed.
Neo sighs sadly, typing, 'All i really want right now, is a friend… someone who genuinely cares about me….'
In that moment Weiss takes Neo's hand in hers, causing Neo to look up into Weiss's eyes. Without another word, Neo got her answer.
Neo stares at Weiss with big, innocent eyes.
At that moment, like an elephant charging through an outhouse, the rest of team RWBY arrived on the scene with their plate and Neos. And immediately confusion set in.
"When did you two become the best of friends?" Yang asked in confusion.
Neo shrugs, typing, 'I have no clue, all I did was tell her about my childhood..'
"You say that like it's the crime of the century Yang. In case you haven't noticed, she isn't in any condition to rob a train." Weiss shot back suddenly.
"Where'd this come from all of a sudden, Ice Queen?" Yang replied suspiciously.
"I'll explain later in a more private setting. Can we please move on from this?" Weiss answered irritatedly.
"Oh I know how! Neo, I got you something!" Ruby said excitedly as she reached into her pocket frantically.
Neo tilts her head, quizzically.
"Found it! I got you front row tickets to the Vytal Festival! That way you will not be bored in 2 weeks, and get to see us kick all kinds of butt!" Ruby said excitedly as she pulled out the ticket.
Neo, unsure of how to feel about the sudden tone shift just smiles awkwardly in appreciation.
Meanwhile in Ozpin's Office
"Have you lost your mind Ozpin!" A bellacose and enraged General Ironwood roared at the headmaster of the Beacon.
"Can you please stop acting like a highschool drama queen in my office, James?" Ozpin asked calmly before sipping some tea.
"No I will not you speckled, fossil! You mean to tell me that you're going to let a international terrorist run free in your goddamn school while she is in the palm of our hands!?" Ironwood roared back, starting to get red in the face.
In the background, both Glynda and Winter shake their heads at this farce of a meeting. Qrow, not being helpful, sat in a chair in the corner and passed out on whiskey from Ozpin's stash.
"You do know that substantial claims require substantial evidence. Or did you forget that in your iron handed quest for everyone in the land to be in jail?" Ozpin asked.
"I'm being serious, Ozpin! Now hand her over!" Ironwood yells, slamming his hands into the ancient oaken desk.
"Just because Atlas has a guilty until proven otherwise policy, doesn't mean it applies here James. Besides, we have bigger fish to fry." Ozpin answered calmly before sipping his tea again.
"You better start giving me some damn answers, Ozpin." Ironwood growled, calming ever so slightly.
"I have reason to suspect Ms. Politan was part of a team inside Beacon. A team with less than positive motives. If my theory is correct, if we find a team with a member missing, then you have a more juicy target to violate the civil liberties of." Ozpin explained.
"You're pushing my patience, Ozpin…" Ironwood growled.
"Well I certainly am not pushing your dead weight paladin project along." Ozpin answered.
"Winter…" Ironwood said sternly.
"I don't get paid enough for this." Winter answered simply.
"Explain to me how Ms. Politan is at fault for your lack of security on a top secret project James?" Ozpin asked
"You have five seconds to give me something…" Ironwood said till he was cut off.
"Once I have determined the team, I'll give you the go ahead to wire tap their room. It will not be long, James. And, to make this clear, Ms. Politan is off limits. Would you prefer to get three criminals, or come home empty handed?" Ozpin explained
"Fine, but don't keep me waiting." Ironwood said as he stood up in a huff.
"Very good. Have a nice trip home, James. I'd offer you some whiskey to calm down, but Qrow emptied my stock again." Ozpin answered.
"And you say I have bad security?" Ironwood asked.
"A cabinet's worth of whiskey isn't as valuable to Beacon as a multi billion lien weapons schematic is to Atlas. If you're going to have a comeback James, do try better than that. I taught you better." Ozpin answered with a small smile.
At that Ironwood and Winter left, and the thick aura of malice left with them. Ozpin sipped his tea again as Glynda used her semblance to dump Qrow out into the hall.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Glynda asked as she closed the door.
"Don't worry, Glynda. Everything is moving along just as planned." Ozpin answered with a smile.