Disclaimer: RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth
It started with Ruby, her first friend. With her she discovered the warmth of the human body, and the warmth that went beyond the physical.
She wanted more.
Next were the teammates. Yang, solid. Blake, soft. Weiss, gentle (also warm, despite being called the Ice Queen).
It wasn't enough.
She summoned Abrosius. She tried to reach him, but he wouldn't keep still, and her now rocket-less legs couldn't chase him. He wanted to know what she wanted him to make, and that gave her an idea.
Team JNPR and company weren't surprised when the portal appeared, but when a pale blur emerged…
"Hugs!"
Before they knew it, she was amongst them, sampling their body heat.
The fellow red head with scars Penny thought were beautiful, as they showed how much she cared for her friends.
Said red heads' taciturn partner who she loved so much.
The white knight who'd kept the virus at bay.
The boy who'd already endured so much.
The last to feel Penny's embrace was her former enemy, and it was the loosest and quickest. Penny wasn't ready to completely forgive Emerald, but in time perhaps.
Then as fast as she had appeared, she was gone.
Qrow, Robin and Marrow were on guard for any reinforcements when the portal materialised. Aiming their weapons on instinct, they were surprised when Penny emerged. It was all the opening she needed.
In a moment was on them.
The one who'd distrusted her.
The one the who Ruby adored.
Her once and current ally.
She found herself locking eyes with Marrow as she was about to leave, his telling her how sorry he was. She hoped her smile would tell him it was all ok, but she had more hugs to seek.
The next portal opened into a dark hallway, throwing shadows behind its' sole occupant.
Penny sees Winter and smiles. It's the first time they've seen each other since the latter switched sides, and Penny is overjoyed to greet her as a friend. She goes to embrace the older women, but stops in her tracks. Winters' face is hard, every muscle taunt, eyes staring ahead like daggers. It takes her a second to process the new arrival.
"Penny…your…it worked?"
"Like everyone else, yes. This new body is amazing, hugs are the best thing in the world!" Penny beams at her fellow meat person, who turns downcast, looking just to the side...
Pennys' mind jumps to the dinner at the Schnee manner, and realises that Winter may not have known such warmth growing up. She'd known Jacque Schnee was not a good man, but this revelation took her opinion of him to a new low. The young woman approached slowly, putting her arms around one of bravest, toughest people she knew. She thought of what she wanted to hear from her father when she was sad.
"It's ok" she said, with a gentle smile.
After a moment, Winter returned the embrace. Penny felt her relax, hearing a long exhale. They stayed like that for several seconds, before Winter decided she could wait no longer. Slowly releasing Penny, she smiled with a warmth she hadn't felt since once upon a time.
"Penny, thank you, but I have to go".
"Understood General" Penny saluted with a smile.
As Winter made her way to the Vault, Ruby appeared through the portal, a frantic look on her face. Before she can finish admonishing her friend for running off, Penny is around her torso again.
She's still there, and Ruby's been trying to tell her we need to move on with the episode for the last ten minutes.
Please help.