Arc II - Barons Rising
Chapter 16: Take My Hand
[Cross Continental Transmit System]
Okay, I was beginning to lose all hope now. A Grimm bursting through the door and tearing me to pieces would be a mercy, atleast let it twist the claws in my gut, because that would honestly be less painful than this conversation.
Coco and her Team were already out on their mission, much to Coco's annoyance of not being able to both help and annoy me. After Weiss helped me explain my situation to the rest of my friends, and thankfully none asking the question of why I can have violent panic attacks, I was left to consider what Weiss had broken through my thick skull.
I liked Ruby. Whether I love her is still up in the air with my thoughts and feelings, but just the word...Like, I...I don't know how I should feel. I was really happy, more-so than ever, but now every point today I can't stop thinking about her, and if she caught on how would I respond. She's a tomboy, not as bad as Yang, but still, I can't convey this stuff to her, she's...I honestly don't know how she'd take it, and that scared me.
"Coco, you are...really unhelpful." I groaned, my head hitting the desk as I heard her laugh through the feed
"I-I'm sorry, but it's just I can't help but use this new ammunition against you." Coco everyone, the biggest pain in my ass since Iota
"Hey!" Oh shut up
"Alright, Sky, don't listen to her." Velvet pushed her aside, now I saw the voice of reason
"You're saying that like I was listening to her." That made Velvet smile, with Coco pouting with her arms crossed
"All you can do is act like you always do, there's no reason to change or respond any differently from who you are." Velvet advised, smiling thoughtfully. "How do you feel about her?"
"...I...ever since I came to Beacon...she's been one of the first few people in years to truly push through my deception and even the anger behind it all. She makes me feel safe, happy...stronger, and in a way...I feel as though I'm myself again, not wary or depressed but normal, wiser...I feel complete." My answer did make me blush, but from the confident smiles on their faces it must have been true
"Heh, you sure have fallen for her, I'm happy for ya, Bluey, I mean it." Coco winked, and Velvet gave a small nod of approval
"You do care about her, all you can do is keep being yourself, you've never once lied about that."
"Okay, thank you for reassuring me, Coco, Velvet."
"Aren't you going down? I don't want that scary Ice-Queen to yell at us again, I get uncomfortable, its super awkward..." Yes, I'm aware Eric, I just need to...ugh, stupid noose-like tie!
"Done!" I commented triumphantly, looking happily at my work, then to Cognitum, seeing that the dance had only started 30 minutes ago. "Right...So, how do I look?"
"I don't see the point in going, but you're...decent." Wow, riveting insight, Iota! Then Eric chimed in
"Decent? He's awesome, the black suit with a nice navy tie and white shirt gives an almost menacing but sleek look overall!" Eric commented happily, he really likes designs and colors, kind-of his thing. "Now then, your girl awaits!"
That comment almost made me fall down the flight of stairs, as I felt my face heat up. Ok, from now on, I'll just shut him out, can't have 'that' on my mind.
Lets get this party started!
Whoa, Weiss and Yang weren't kidding about making this awesome, although my doubts were there, but I guess i'll be owing Yang some mula later. Other than that, the place was abuzz with almost every student from the school, including the transfers for the festival.
"Oh my Gods, they actually got a tie on Sun?" I blinked in surprise as Yang walked up to, looking both excited and smug, but the ladder was a mystery why. "Well someone is defiantly turning heads."
"Sorry, buy me a drink, then I might fall of it." Yang winked at me, before holding her hand out, to which I sighed, and handed her the payroll. "And just like that, you're broke."
"Thanks..." I muttered, as I heard Eric cry about not being able to buy a DLC, but I digress, I then decided to take my leave and enjoy being socially awkward. "Welp, i'm off."
"Try not to cause a scene!" Yang yelled back at me, but I just rolled my eyes as I narrowed my gaze. Both of you, not a word
"We didn't say anything." They both replied as I sighed and moved on, I doubt my night could get any more crazy, atleast that's how all my thoughts start out as
[Ruby's POV]
Well...can't say i'm not enjoying this, although...
"Why can't I just wear my hood...?" I sighed, looking around for any sort of escape, but none appeared; To make it worse, I'm not good with crowds without my hood and stuff, I can't really hold a conversation unless I already know them, and...I can't dance, so that's out of the question
"I'm screwed trying to find you, if I can only tell by..." At that voice, I turned to see Sky standing in front of me, but his face seemed to freeze on me, and I felt my face heat up slightly from his stare, stupid girly emotions!
"H-Hey, Sky. Where were you, I didn't see you for the whole day?" I asked, which seemed to snap him out of his daze, as I felt my face and heart-rate slow back down, wait, why was my heart racing? Ugh, Weiss knows more about this than me
"I...well, I had a lot on my mind today, mostly concerning the missions in two days, and from what Coco has told me it hasn't gone too well out there either," Sky explained and I now felt more inclined to getting us to the location of the White Fang Torchwick hired, they were up to something bad, but what? "Still, the rest of my time was spent wandering Beacon."
"Good, so while you had fun I've trying to survive in these stilts. How can Weiss fight in these?" I grunted, as I wobbled to keep steady, but something grabbed my shoulder as I stabilized, then I noticed Sky's hand keeping me steady and I sighed. "Thanks."
"Can't have my leader face-planting, can I?" He smirked, but I could tell he was trying not to laugh. Jerk. But then we stood in silence, as we watched the world around us go by, that is, until I heard Sky mutter to himself
"Shut it, Eric..." He grunted before nodding to himself, and at this point, nothing made sense in my head, I think my brain hurts. "Here, I have an idea."
He then reached down and grabbed my hand softly, almost making me jump as he slowly lead me 'Towards' the crowd of dancers as my mind finally reacted as I pulled back slightly, prompting him to stop.
"I...I can't really dance..." Yeah, hope Yang didn't hear that...but I just saw him smile calmly as he nodded ahead
"Hence why I'm going to help you, that, and lets be honest, you were just going to hide a the punch bowl all night?" He questioned as I pouted, then nodded in defeat, he was right...although I doubt I'm the only one. "Besides, I haven't done this in a while, soooo."
"Wait, dance? You?" He looked at me with a mocked expression but we finally stopped and it took the majority of my will power to not turn red at how close we were right now, stay calm Ruby, you can do this, it's just him being nice and helping you, deal with it!
Carefully, he lifted my left-hand to his shoulder, as he used his right and held it around my back, but my right and his left stayed in place. Much to my embarrassment, the music changed...Yang was there, grr, you jerk!
{AN - Melodies of Life Piano Version}
"Ok, now what I want you to do is follow my movements, just like if you squaring off with an opponent, just follow my lead," He spoke at the start of the song, as I carefully did what he asked, before he chuckled. "Just don't crush my foot."
"Don't tempt me." I countered as I did what he asked, albeit, I almost failed twice, but that was the least of my concerns, I then noticed Yang off to my left, smiling deviously in my direction, and then I felt my resolve shatter, as I lit up like a candle. "Oh no..."
"Hey?" At this, I looked nervously to Sky, who was also seemed to suffer my fate, but he kept his eyes locked with mine with a soft smile. "Just keep your eyes on your opponent, nothing else matters, ok?"
"O-Ok..." I stuttered as I ignored Yang, and I think Blake too, as I stared towards his hazel eyes, and for some reason, it worked, I didn't feel myself slip up once, and I almost felt...happy, like when I'm around Yang or Dad, but why? But I swore something changed in Sky's eyes, like the color shifted slightly under the lights
"Hey Sky? How do you know how to dance?" I asked randomly, as he seemed to laugh nervously at that question
"Yeah, Erika was 'really' insistent on using me as her practice dummy, but she also said that I needed to learn how to dance to, and I quote, 'Make a girl fall for you'." I didn't think my heart as ever drummed this fast in my life, as I tried to hold my composure
"Do...do you miss her?" I asked, and for once, he seemed to relax his eyes in sorrow, no-no-no, I didn't mean it like that!
"Yes. I do. But..." 'But'? "I don't regret anything that's happened, Erika wouldn't want me to, and I won't let myself fall into depression, and besides. Meeting all of you has been the greatest thing that's ever happened to me, and I doubt i'll ever be able to make it up to you."
I couldn't really think of anyway to answer that, he was sad, but happy? He misses her, alot, but he wants to continue to be happy for her, and himself. What almost happened next, took both me and him by surprise. I don't know why, but I slowly rested my head on his chest, just beneath his chin as he almost stumbled on himself. But I was smiling anyway.I felt safer under his guidance, just for now.
[Sky's POV]
Eric! We no plan for this! What do I do, what do I do!? I panicked mentally as I heard a stool being kicked over in the distance, and the snap of a neck, followed by what sounded like a file-cabinet being shut rapidly, said cabinet falling over and set on fire
"No! We didn't have a scenario like this planned! We got nothing. Nothing~!" He cried out, as I just held Ruby close to me, as if Yang and Blake watching wasn't bad enough, without looking, I knew they were smiling at us, and I was going to kill them later for it
"H-Hey, R-Ruby?" I asked nervously, as she looked up at me, but then my eyes caught something outside, it was distant, but I could just barely make out a person running across the roofs of the building ahead, then my eyes narrowed. "We may have a problem."
At this, she noticed my change in attitude and nodded, as I pointed to a less noticeable way out, didn't need a panic to break out, at this, I looked back at Yang, before I lifted 'Cognitum' to her, pointing at it. Thankfully, she read the message clear, and nodded. But she still couldn't help but wink.
"Now its my turn to use 'my' plans for tonight." Oh, nice of you to come down from your rope, Iota? "Anything involving you and Red makes me want to vomit my organs, not to mention your 'disturbing' dream of-"
"Wait, you saw that!?" I blurted out, and Ruby looked at me with an odd look, but I just waved her off as I used the night-light to cover my red face. "Sorry, just Iota."
"Hmph, I'll make whoever ruined this night pay!" Okay, Ruby was scary when she was dragged out of happy land, noted. "Where did the person go?" Ruby asked as I pointed to the Communication tower. "Ok, I'll head there, you make sure no one else was with them, okay?"
"Aye, sir." I nodded before we separated, and I got ready for a fight. Sadly, I was really enjoying our dance deep down
"Kill me..."
The night sky was as black as the shadows around me, but something within the fractured moon's gaze told me I wasn't alone, if I were, it might have been easy, but since when am I given such ease in Remnant? So, I activated Cognitum, using every sensor within my gaze to track for any movement, any heat source, anything.
"So, we finally get to meet face-to-face, indirectly of course?" My body moved on its own accord, holding a blade out towards the hooded entity before my eyes, he didn't move or even flinch at my movement, but four eyes watched with malice intent, a Grimm? No...he was different somehow. Raising his armored hands he stepped back. "Much faster than before, interesting."
"..." I didn't say anything, holding my ground as his fingers guided across my bladed arm, pushing the tip down from his position
"What? Not going to introduce yourself, Kai Amadeus?" He laughed a little under my widened eyes. How did he know my name!? I felt visible shaken by that, stepping back myself as he clasped his hands in front of himself. "See? I know who you are, you not only are an unexpected outcome but are also the person who had...obtained, Project Eclipse."
"You created it?" Did he...was he the one that did this to me? I felt my throat down something dry as my body shivered with fear at his form. "What are you?"
"Right now this must be rather perplexing, and I can assure you that your questions will have answers, depending if you survive the train wreck that follows." He answered vaguely, but I was already letting my repulsers charge. "I wouldn't recommend that, I'd hate to see my greatest project go to waste."
I cycled them down again, growling under my breath at his calm demeanor. I couldn't let this chance slip now, he was right there, the man responsible for throwing me into Remnant, for Project Eclipse, he was right there! Stomping my foot, I raised my blades close to my sides.
"Why did you do this to me, why drag me to this God forsaken world?" I was angry, and I demanded an answer after all this time of guessing and vague mysteries, I wanted to know. "I want to know why I'm here!?"
He paused in what looked to be thought, before his eyes relaxed, arms crossed. "I guess since you have been a good boy in giving me data I could answer atleast two of your questions. One, I am the creator of Project Eclipse or Cognitum as you refer to, good name too."
"And two; My name..." He stepped back towards the shadows casted by the buildings. "...Is Mars, Horseman of War."
Before he vanished like smoke, I raised my blade in his direction, Cognitum matching my glare. "I'll be seeing you again." With another chuckle, he was gone as quickly as he came
[Later that night...]
"Can't say tonight wasn't informative, but this does raise more questions than we originally had." Iota murmured as I sat atop the ballroom, looking off towards the shattered moon, I have been since the incident was resolved, Ruby and I however will be asked what happened tomorrow
"But what he did, he used us as a way to lure us away! AHH, I hate being a pawn!" Eric roared in anger, as Iota sighed and decided to block him out for both of us
"Thanks." I nodded
"He can be strange, but he's right, he planned to lure us away from support, and in the end, it could have ended horribly for all of us." iota agreed. "If he kept us waiting any longer Little Red could have been in trouble."
"Yeah, well that's because they never met a cute-scythe-wielding-badass! Then again, neither have we." I quipped, as I thought I saw Iota smirk before he went to rest in my subconscious, then I was left to my own devices, for about a microsecond
"Y-You think I'm cute?" Ahh! I nearly fell flat on my face from Ruby's sudden appearance, while I couldn't quite make our her features in the night, she kept her gaze to me. I saw no way out of this...I could try jumping but I doubt I'd survive the fall
"I-Uh-well um, I...don't have anything else to say but...Yes, you are." No point trying to weave my way out of hell, might as well hit the tip of the arrow. That, and her reaction was priceless, it was somewhere between shocked and disbelief, that and her now crimson face completely visible
"I-I-ugh-um..." Yep, she ain't got nothing, so I just patted the small bench beside me and she silently sat down, and soon an awkward air of silence thickened between us. "..."
"..." Come on, say something, Kai!
In an instant, both of us jumped and most likely everyone else at the spectacle of fireworks that lit the sky in an aurora of illuminating colors, all magnified with bursts and streams of pure color that either shot forth from them, or traveled alongside their path, creating a display of both beauty and awe.
As I relaxed under the grand display of pyrotechnics, I had to say I was quite relaxed, even after encountering the man responsible for me being here...but...was it really that bad? Back home I'm treated like dirt and given false pity, but here...I had the strength to be the person I was before, maybe even more than that, the friends I've made only strengthen that truth the more I spent time with them. Do I really want to go home? Erika...would you be okay with this?
Sighing, I rubbed the back of my head. "I'm getting too old for this world's crap." Ruby seemed to find that amusing
"We've only been doing this for half a year now?" Ruby's optimistic reply only made me huff
"Too old!" I ranted, resting my back against the bench, I suddenly felt my right arm press against the rest of me
"It's really fun though..." The soft retort was much closer to me now
When I decided to tear my gaze from the sky, as I stared at Ruby, her head rested against my shoulder as she kept her silver eyes to the sky, with a smile smile on her face, and I honestly was debating between which to stare at, but I guess it didn't matter. I was happy, and for once, I threw my thoughts to the wind, relaxing against Ruby myself.
"Yeah...it is."
To Be Continued...
Yay, new chapter, more feels, and more answers as to who the creator of Project Eclipse is, but I guess we'll see if anything new will happen in the future with Mars, the Horseman of War. Hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!
Next Chapter: More Than You See
A few days later and Team RWBYS is given the chance to uncover the plans of the White Fang, but the place they must go is a home of the dead, the deranged, and the deadly. Mountain Glenn is calling.