Yeah, I know I updated this fast but I want to break it down into smaller chapters.
Neo grumbled to herself furiously while Ruby followed after her. Ruby was trying to figure out if any of the words were actual words or just sounds she was making. It was hard to say if the pair was actively searching for anyone or if they were wandering aimlessly while still trying to process the situation. Bored and still shocked about her current situation, Ruby tried to hum but even that was impossible. She silently wondered how Neo even functioned without being able to talk.
Neo, meanwhile, tried to figure out why Ruby had no idea what she did. She was the last person to have fought Roman. She had to have killed him!... Right? But then again... Neo remembered Cinder deliberately put her up to killing Ruby, being unable to do it herself because she was ordered not to. She knew that Cinder was technically using her to kill Ruby and she also used her for other things... like the credit of having brought the lamp to Salem... Which means there was a chance... a chance that Cinder tricked her about Ruby having any responsibility in killing Roman. But Roman wouldn't have let Ruby walk away and he wasn't just passed out somewhere. He was dead. She searched for him everywhere and only found his hat. She tried looking in hospitals, shelters, jails, and any place she could think of... but there was no sign of him at all. But she acknowledged that she had no evidence to prove that Ruby actually killed him... she also didn't have evidence to prove the contrary, either... but the fact that Ruby seemed so oblivious either meant Roman's death didn't bother her... or she didn't kill him.
She paused, Ruby bumping into her back and almost falling over. Ruby tried to say something but once again, only a raspy noise came from her mouth... But it did almost sound to Neo like a 'what?'... almost. Some part of her hoped that maybe having Ruby in her body could help her figure out how to talk... if that happened, she would owe Ruby her soul. Ruby texted her instead.
"What is it? Did you see something?" Ruby asked.
Neo took out her scroll and texted back.
"No... this just isn't getting us anywhere. Alright, I'll try to work with you... for now." Neo texted.
"Then can you please stop trying to kill me when this is all over with?" Ruby asked.
Neo glared at her but then... she could play her game. She didn't have to promise Ruby anything... But she also hated going back on any word she made. She let out a frustrated huff. She hated herself for being loyal to her own promises... but then again, she decided to see what happened. Maybe working with her enemy would give her more insight. Maybe it would provide the proof she needed. She nodded and shook hands with Ruby.
If I can prove she killed him, I'll kill her... but if I don't have any proof or if she didn't... Her train of thought paused at that. What would she do? She couldn't kill Cinder on her own if the blame went straight back to Cinder... though she would have gladly tried regardless... if they could even leave this place. Ruby smiled, happy to see Neo was finally willing to work with her. This snapped Neo out of her thoughts, surprising her. She's smiling? She then texted her.
"So let's work on your voice! Try making a 'B' sound!" Ruby texted.
Neo grew a little nervous. Ruby attempted to make it to show her but it always came out so raspy and quiet. She barely made a 'beh' sound. Ruby frowned. She then texted Neo again.
"Did your parents ever teach you any sign language or something? I don't think there's any way I could even show you how to say anything." she texted.
Neo frowned sadly. No. She didn't even know it was a thing until she left that house. She would never forgive her parents for not ever trying to teach her other ways of communicating... all because they hoped she would eventually speak. She shook her head.
"Oh... well... We'll figure something out. Typing isn't that bad. Um... try saying 'bow' or maybe even 'Blake' while we search for her." Ruby texted.
They then continued walking. 'Bow' was easy enough for Neo to say but Blake... that one was hard. How did the b and the l work together? How did she have to move her tongue to say it? Ruby texted her.
"Okay, maybe try working on your 'l' sounds now so you can say 'blake'." Ruby texted.
So Neo tried a few times and she was eventually able to say 'la la la' and Ruby was excited.
"That's right! You're getting it! Now try saying 'lake'!" Ruby texted.
She was able to say 'lay' but Neo had more trouble figuring out how to combine all these sounds to make the words. It wasn't like she hadn't done these movements with her mouth before, she just never had the ability to make the proper sounds in her life. It wasn't in her muscle memory to know how to speak properly. She was able to say 'Blake' after a few tries but her voice sounded so weird.
"Now try calling out for her!" Ruby texted.
"Blahke!" Neo shouted.
Ruby flinched. Close but not spot on. Her voice sounded so weird and it was especially weird with it being her own voice coming from her own body while she stands next to it. Ruby shook her head and gestured for her to try again. After a few more tries, Neo managed to get it right but Ruby still noticed her voice sounded slightly off. It reminded her of when Ozpin spoke through Oscar... she felt a little sad thinking of him. Would he be alright? Did all the fighting in Atlas force them to fuse even more?.. Would he be anything like the boy she grew close with in all this time?
"Ruby!" Blake shouted, snapping her out of her thoughts.
She bolted out of the trees and hugged Neo, taking her off guard. Blake then backed away and looked at her.
"Are you hurt?!" She asked.
"Uuh..." Neo said, feeling awkward.
Blake then noticed Ruby behind her and drew her weapon only for Neo to stop her.
"'top!" She said, panicked.
Her 'teammate' then looked at her in confusion. 'Neo' was making all sorts of weird gestures... Blake became even more confused because the way 'Neo' was acting reminded her of some of the gestures Ruby made when she was frantic. Blake turned back to Neo.
"What... is going on? Why are you two acting so weird?" She asked.
Neo stammered, trying to find the way to word her sentences but she couldn't. She took out Ruby's phone and texted Blake.
"This is going to take awhile to explain." She texted
End of chapter 2
