Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Cybernetic Couple. Enjoy the 900-word chapter. I don't own RWBY, Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth do.

(Alleyways of Mantle.)

Penny flinched at every missile that was fired or the sounds of Grimm howling in the air.

Then she heard the sound of metallic clanking and looked up to see Ruddy walking towards her.

"Don't run… DON'T, I know you want to, but don't." He said. Ruddy walked over till he could bend down to look her in the eye.

He retracted the visor and Penny was greeted by his red eyes as he frowned.

"I saw what happened and uploaded the video to the network… Penny, everyone else saw what happened at the rally…" He looked up to see a Manticore get shot down as it's dying growl echoed.

"Pen, nobody is mad at you and even if they blame you, we're here… I'm not going to run from you, so please don't try and rush away." Ruddy turned as a Beowolf growled at them.

Ruddy executed the Grimm with a single headshot from his gun. he thanked his cybernetic enhancements.

"They all hate me… They're going to think I killed them." Penny stated. Ruddy leaned on the wall and sighed before running his fingers along his helmet.

"Pen… They don't matter, your friends… I? we care about you and nobody is going to believe that… What about your dad? Ruby?" Ruddy got a message from Ruby that was sent to his visor.

The Grimm were more or less defeated and they would be looking for them. Ruddy made sure to tell them where the duo would be.

He made special mention of how vulnerable Penny would be. She needed a friend, someone who understood her.

And he didn't know her like the others did… Not yet.

He sat down next to the girl and patted her shoulder. He was about to say something when a thought came to him.

"Pen… Do you remember when we first met in Mantle?" He asked. Penny blinked and looked at her friend.

"Yes, you were nearly dead and I brought you back to see my father." She batted her green eyes as he patted her shoulder.

"Pen? If it wasn't for you? I'd be dead, you can't act like you're the bad guy because I refuse to let you. We're partners, we look after each other… And I'm trying to look after you. Pen? I used to be some generic grunt and thought that Beowolf was going to kill me… Then you swoop in, superhero style, kill it super easily and rocket me to safety. You aren't some evil monster in my book, you're a brave Huntress fighting as hard as she can and having a rough day at the moment…." Ruddy stated before he rolled his eyes under his helmet.

"You should have let me die in that ally, though. I kept causing problems for my platoon. I would question orders I didn't think work, I would end up engaging in firefights and causing trouble for the sheer idea that I could save a few more soldiers in battle. I don't know how I survived so far in battle without someone like you helping me along." Penny turned to look at the soldier before shaking her head.

"I saw a lot of people die in Vale when my father showed me the footage. I felt so helpless, being hurt? I couldn't do anything to help all those people. I felt useless... Then my dad uses more Aura to help bring me back? When he's been suffering from a lung disease? He needed to be ok more than me." Ruddy heard from Penny who looked ready to cry.

He put his hand on her shoulder as she blinked and turned to see Ruddy warmly smiling at her.

"I don't want you to die, Pen… You're my first real friend when it comes to Mantle. I wouldn't have come to help you if you weren't my friend." Penny looked at his hand and then at him.

Ruddy blinked as he felt the girl hugging him and he blushed before looking at the girl.

"Thank you." She stated. Ruddy blinked and slowly returned the gesture.

"Pen, if you feel I'm worth saving despite my screw ups in the past? then I'm not letting you give up either. We need to get back to the lab without anyone finding us… That means sneaking there and no flying." He turned and lowered his visor over his helmet.

"Do you trust me enough to follow me?" He asked. Penny nodded and the duo walked out of the ally.

"I thank you for opening up to me." Penny said. Ruddy turned to her with amusement.

"Well I thank you for being my partner, Pen. You're my new best friend, and as my new best friend? You have to be willing to trust me and not run away if something scary happens. Deal?" Ruddy asked and got a nod.

The duo of cyborgs slowly began to walk towards Pietro's lab.

Author notes

Phew, another chapter done! I want to point out that Ruddy and Penny are friends, they're not dating yet. Next chapter will be on Thursday or so next week. Next chapter will also show Ruddy and Penny sneaking back to Pietro's hideout. Until then? Lighting Wolf out!

Ps: I might make a Pietro story and I might bring back Neo soon. Ruby is on Sunday; Yang is on Friday. Winter is 1200 words on Saturday and Glynda is Thursday.