A/N: I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who has favorited and followed this story thus far, and especially everyone who has left such kind and thoughtful reviews! :) I'm really glad that you're enjoying the story, and I hope it doesn't disappoint in the future.
Roman glanced over his shoulder as the double doors of the cockpit slid open, revealing a certain diminutive figure he was only too pleased to see. The soft smirk on Neo's face and the confident way she strode into the room told him everything he needed to know, but the slight sultry swing in her hips told him even more.
"I told you to give Little Red a bath, Neo, not break her already." Roman smirked, his green eyes sparkling with interest to the counter the exaggerated pride that was present in Neo's mismatched ones. "I hope she's still in one piece?"
Neo batted her eyes innocently as she stood in front of her much taller partner. Finally, she removed her scroll from her pocket and typed a quick message.
Disappointed that you didn't get to do it yourself? ;)
Roman rolled his eyes and turned away, going back to facing the large holographic screen on the cockpit's wall. They were now far away from Beacon, which was perfect— as much as he'd enjoyed the chaos of the moment, it was imperative that they slip away before General Ironwood got a lead on them.
Roman smiled and took a small puff of his cigar as he studied the digital map in front of him. They were getting close to a wide, relatively flat field not far from the woods, which would be the ideal landing spot for the Atlesian airship.
"Found the perfect spot for a landing!" he reported with an air of triumph, glancing over at Neo, only to find that she'd wandered over to the large window and was looking outside into the darkness. He tilted his head and walked over to her. "See something you like?" he asked, arching an eyebrow as he followed her gaze.
The familiar lights of the city of Vale were burning at the edge of the black forest. In the distance, the spire of Beacon Tower reared up against the night sky. Every few seconds, a blaze of scarlet would light up the darkness just above the Tower, making the hovering clouds look stained with blood.
Seconds later, a sudden and violent explosion seemed to tear the spire in two as if it were made of paper. A tiny gasp escaped Neo's lips and Roman's posture tensed. Bolts of lightning flickered erratically in the sky above the Tower as flames began to lick down its sides, turning the once-indomitable structure into a blazing inferno.
Beacon Academy had fallen.
The jolt of the airship finally making contact with solid ground caused a shudder to snake through Ruby's body. She gritted her teeth and struggled against her chains in one last attempt to free herself, but it was hopeless. She had the very bad feeling that her time as Torchwick's hostage was drawing to an end— and, given the current state of things, likely a very bloody one.
Sure enough, she caught the sound of footsteps a few minutes after the ship's landing. They were heavy and even, lacking the prim clack of high heels, so it was undoubtedly Torchwick. Wonderful.
Ruby shuddered as she realized that she was still completely naked from her encounter with Neo. She hurriedly hugged her knees to her chest to cover herself as best as she could, just as the steel door slid open.
"Good morning, Little Red!" Roman greeted her, with the same enthusiasm as if she were a long-lost friend. Ruby glowered at him, but couldn't hide the deep flush of humiliation on her cheeks as his eyes scanned her form. However, if her current exposure affected him, he didn't show it.
"Where are you taking me?" she demanded.
Roman chuckled, arching an eyebrow and slowly crouching down on the floor in front of Ruby. She pointedly scooted away from him, half in anger and half in fear of what he might try to do to her while she was chained and completely exposed. Ghost touches of Neo's hands slowly brushed over her skin and she shivered, hating the warmth that seeped back into her core almost instantly.
"After all this, do you really think I'm going to tell you where we're going, Red?" Roman smirked. His tone was strangely gentle, though, as if he was speaking to a child.
Ruby's gaze hardened and she clenched her fists in her chains. She hoped the erratic rhythm of her heartbeat wasn't loud enough to be heard in the metal-walled room. "Oh, I get it. We're going to your personal torture chamber," she said sarcastically.
Roman rolled his eyes. "Please, don't be so cliché." He touched one of the steel chains on Ruby's ankles and she growled, flinching away. "Well, I don't have to take those off," he chuckled, shrugging as he stood. "I didn't expect you to like them so much already, Red. It's just as well; I don't mind carrying you." He bent over to wrap his arms around Ruby, earning an indignant shriek from the silver-eyed girl.
Ruby growled and struggled futilely in her chains as the tall, ginger-haired criminal lifted her with ease and carried her out into the hallway. Torchwick hummed low under his breath, completely ignoring Ruby's protests, but not taking advantage of his hold on her, either. She tried her hardest to free herself, but by the time they reached the cockpit of the stolen airship, she realized that it was pointless.
"I thought we were leaving," she said distrustfully as the twin doors slid open.
Roman chuckled and reached up to ruffle Ruby's short, disheveled bob. She tried to pull away, but couldn't, being forced to feel his fingers gently stroking through her hair. She hated that the motions actually felt.. well, almost good.
"Are you afraid we'll just leave you out here in the middle of nowhere?" Torchwick asked softly, feeling Ruby tense just the slightest bit in his arms. "No food, no clothes, no weapon? Without even your semblance to protect you?"
There was a lengthy pause. "Why wouldn't you?" Ruby hissed, trying to mask her growing anxiety as she locked eyes with Roman. "You're a criminal. You're a killer." She looked away from him, giving a start when she realized that Neo was standing in the far corner, leaning against the wall in a relaxed pose. The multicolored girl blew Ruby a subtle kiss, making her swallow uneasily as ghost touches fluttered over her skin again.
"Well," said Roman, tilting his head as if considering something, "I suppose if you really want to be left behind, I can arrange that." He shrugged lightly and carried Ruby over to one of the chairs, gesturing for Neo to come closer. His silent partner did so at once, rummaging through her pocket before pulling out a small loop of white rope.
Ruby continued to struggle as Roman bound her already-chained arms behind the back of the chair and Neo bound each of her ankles to the legs. The huntress in training flushed scarlet with horror and indignation when she realized that all of her femininity was on full display. She tried to pull her legs together, to no avail.
"Someone will find me!" Ruby insisted, but the boldness in her voice was quavering. "It'll just be a matter of time before my team comes looking, or Professor Ozpin wonders why one of his students just dropped off of Remnant."
Roman chuckled softly and shook his head, slowly bending down to be at eye level with the bound girl. "Oh, I don't think so, Little Red."
Ruby swallowed hard at the hint of malice in his voice. Her mind flashed back to gruesome images of Penny's death, the fear glowing in her friends' eyes, the rampage of the Grimm. The frantic, furtive way that Professor Ozpin had seized Jaune and Pyrrha and vanished back into Beacon. His words..
"The Tower cannot fall."
The tower..
"Beacon Academy is gone," Torchwick said softly. "No one is coming for you."
Ruby shuddered, feeling numb with confusion and horror. No. That can't be true. It can't be! She latched onto the only sensible conclusion that she could think of.
"You're lying."
"I'm afraid not."
Faces flickered erratically through Ruby's mind. Her sister, her friends.. it couldn't be true. Professor Ozpin would never allow Beacon to fall. He'd defend his students with everything left in him, even his life.
His life..
"No! It's not true!" Ruby shouted, clenching her fists as a growl escaped her throat. "They'll come, and they'll find me! I know they will!"
Torchwick chuckled. "Very well, Red. We'll wait and see." He bent down and pressed a surprisingly gentle kiss to Ruby's forehead before standing, turning to face Neo. His silent partner smiled and rested her parasol on her shoulder, walking alongside him to the doors of the airship's cockpit.
"Just remember, Little Red… we didn't leave you behind," Roman said softly. "You chose it."
The doors slid shut and the darkness closed in.
